Harvey Seals Regent Victory!

The travelling Brightlingsea Regent squad and their supporters had to wait to find out whether or not this Bostik Premier Division fixture would still be on.

Kingstonian were holding a pitch inspection at there temporary Fetcham Grove Stadium, home of Leatherhead FC at 11 am. The Regent coach was picking up players in Colchester when the call came in from The K’s. The match was on.

Momentum is everything and with the R’s unbeaten in three including two superb away performances Tom Rothery surely wanted this fixture on.

Brightlingsea were going into this game supremely confident and were looking forward to testing themselves once again on the road against one of the more famous names in non league football especially having beating the K’s in the reverse fixture at the Taydal.

On arrival at the ground it was apparent that it had been touch and go as to whether this game would be played.

Two teams sharing the surface and the winter weather had taken its toll and any hopes of fluid passing football were dashed. This would be a game of attrition, the heavy ground sapping the strength of the players legs.

As the game began and players struggling to keep their footing, the ball changing possession time and again it was the home side that started on the front foot.

Kingstonian were pinning Brightlingsea in their own half, but some resolute defending and discipline in keeping their shape from the visitors restricted the K’s chances.

Despite winning a flurry of corner kicks Kingstonian could not break through and they were left to rue these missed opportunities when on nine minutes Regent broke through with the first real chance of the game.

Aaron Condon received the ball out wide on the left flank and instead of taking on the covering defenders decided to whip in an early cross.

His decision proved to be the correct on as his fantastic delivery flashed across the Kingstonian box. Rob Harvey had raced forward and he met the ball with the deftest of flicks to steer the ball past a stranded keeper and into the Kingstonian goal.

1-0 Brightlingsea.

The rest of the game huffed and puffed in much the same way as opening period. The pitch was cutting up more and more and looking heavier and heavier.

Both teams despite trying to play some passing football were often frustrated as the ball bobbled and bounced around or held up on the increasingly sticky surface.

It was a credit to both sides that despite the challenging conditions this was still a fairly entertaining game. Kingstonian kept pushing forward trying to find an equalizer but this Brightlingsea team are made of sterner stuff of late and the home side were frustrated again and again.

Committing men forward allowed The R’s to play on the break. Billy Hunt worked tirelessly chasing and closing down and when he was able to hold the ball up he was looking dangerous cutting inside and looking to get a shot off.

Harry Macdonald almost reaped the benefit of Hunt’s hard work when the Regent striker won possession and played Macdonald in. The young Brightlingsea player looked to have only the keeper to beat and despite a fairly tight angle the regent Ultras behind the goal were waiting to celebrate a second R’s goal that would have surely have secured victory with only fifteen minutes left.

They could only watch as Harry Mac’s effort went wide of the goal leaving them with a nervous final few minutes.

Kingstonian continued to put pressure on the R’s but despite conceding several corners, free kicks and Harry Palmer having to pull off another fine save to tip the ball over the bar from close range Brightlingsea held on for another three points and another clean sheet.

Every player deserving credit for putting in a tremendous shift against strong opposition in testing conditions.

Up the R’s

Gavin Aplin