On a bright but chilly April afternoon Regent lined up with Turner; Gilbert, Thompson, Littlejohn and Mvemba; Locke, Durling, Carlos Rocha and Flood; with Barnby and Blair up front. The bench comprised Gregan, Skinner, Ribchester, Bell and Valter Rocha.

Regent kicked off and made their usual bright start winning an early corner and having most of the play in the visitor’s half. In the early moves Carlos Flood fed Aaron Blair but his attempt curled just past the post. Then Blair was pulled back and Carlos Flood’s fierce free kick had to be palmed over by the Casuals’ ‘keeper.

Regent dominated the rest of the first half but for all their neat play in the middle of the park, and winning several corners, couldn’t create any clear-cut chances which were on target.

As the half wore on too many ambitious long passes were easily intercepted by the opposition and free kicks were given away in dangerous places although the visitors seemed unable to make anything of such opportunities.

Casuals’ first real shot on goal came in added time at the end of the first 45 minutes but went wide. At half time it was 0-0 but it had been a game of neat approach play by Regent, who had had the bulk of the possession, but without achieving any really great penetration.

Second Half

Unfortunately, during the half time break it became clear that Wyan Reid, who had been enthusiastically calling the officials’ attention to foul throws and other infringements during the first half from the stands, would be unlikely to recover from his knee injury much before the end of the season.

Regent made a series of good chances in the second half.

First Dom Locke got away down the right but Carlos Flood was able to get on the end of a cross which went clean through the penalty area.
Then, Locke won a corner which Jake Thompson nearly got on the end of.

But, ten minutes into the half Brett Munyard realised that changes were necessary and brought on Valter Rocha and Luke Skinner for Locke and Flood.

This consolidated Regent’s grip on the game as Valter Rocha showed intent with some shots from distance and Skinner produced some dynamic surging runs through midfield. All this time the Regent defence was untroubled with Jake Thompson and Zak Littlejohn being particularly dominant.

As Regent pressed forward Sam Mvemba and Kane Gilbert started to come forward more often and from one of these Mvemba put Aaron Blair through one on one with the goalkeeper who made a fine save. So far, all the action had been in the Casuals’ half of the pitch.

Five minutes from the end Regent’s season was summed up in an instant as a long ball forward found Casuals’ Bayley Mummery unmarked and although Charlie Turner was able to parry the first shot, he could do nothing to prevent Mummery scoring from the re-bound. As in other recent games Regent had made a host of chances but now been able to score from any of them whilst the opposition had been clinical and made the most of the chances that fell to them.

Somehow the referee found five minutes added time for Regent to get an equaliser but in spite of everyone going forward in the last minutes it was to no avail and Regent face difficult trips to high flying opponents in the final matches.

Match verdict

Regent paid the price of going forward and aiming to get three points against opponents who were happy to simply soak up the pressure and go home with a point or take advantage of any breakaway that came their way. Today, having made multiple chances, Casuals scored from their one clear cut opportunity.

By Paul Ketchley