140 spectators turned up to see Regent face Potters Bar Town on the first Saturday of February. In contrast to previous weeks it was a nice, bright, mild day although a strong wind blew from left to right in front of the clubhouse. It might as well have been spring rather than the middle of winter.

Brightlingsea fielded what is becoming the expected first choice starting eleven of Charlie T, Mo, Pip, George and Jake Gould; Lewis Byrne-Hewitt, JT, Jerry Kamanzi and Romario; George Bugg and Jake Clowsley. Lamell, Jordan, and Finn were joined on the bench by new boys Jake Thompson and Rueben Mudd, who was welcomed back after spending time at the club last season.

Matt Cripps looked on as a spectator in a full length plaster cast and looks to be out for the rest of the season.

Potters Bar turned up in luminous yellow with one of the biggest set of players seen at the Taydall this season. Their centre backs were well over six feet tall and up front lanky former Aldershot Town striker Marvin Morgan tried to confuse matters by switching shirts with Bradley Sachs. Nobody was fooled that an afternoon of high ball football would play into their hands.

Regent kicked off into the wind and from the off it was clear how Potters Br would play the match with balls being pumped into the penalty box. Regent obliged the visitors by pumping high balls forward only to see their front players muscled out of it by the opposition defence.
It was a forty-five minute stalemate which was entirely forgettable. The only sparkle of the pitch came from the range of coloured boots on display and it took 40 minutes for Romario Dunne to make a good run through the middle before hitting the ball wide. Half time came as a relief to the crowd.

Second half

Early in the second half Potters Bar won a corner and put the ball into the side netting.

With wind behind them Regent had the advantage that the ball would run through for them, but they could make nothing of it. There were some nice moves with Mo Gelashvilli putting George Bugg through, a good free kick attempt by Jake Turner from distance and some good runs by Lewis Byrne-Hewitt down the right hand side. But in spite of Jerry Kamanzi’s urging there were no clear chances.

On 64 minutes Rueben Mudd came on for George Bugg and looked lively up front.

On 77 minutes Potters Bar prepared to take Imedd Kartita off, so, seeing his number of the board, he tried to depart on a high by shooting past the post. The only moment of real threat came when Potters Bar got a free kick just outside the box. The ball was chipped in but was easily taken by Charlie Turner.

After two minutes added time, and to everyone’s relief, the referee brought the game to an end.

Match Verdict

Regent took a point from this drab game which was played in difficult conditions. Potter’s Bar came set up for an aerial battle and Regent were unable to create a counter to them. Unfortunately, both Wingate & Finchley and Corinthian Casuals managed wins and so the relegation battle has become more intense between the bottom five.

By Paul Ketchley