Regent Pull Of Cup Shock In 9 Goal Thriller!

The Regent faithful couldn't believe what they were witnessing as Brightlingsea Regent raced into a 4 goal lead after 24 breathtaking minutes against the Ryman Premier Divisions top club!

It was a matter of seconds and almost straight from kick-off when Brightlingsea took the lead. With a searching ball knocked forward, Ricky Griggs got down the left hand side and squared the ball into the box, the cross wasn't dealt with by the Leiston Defender Regan Pelling and the ball bounced away from him allowing Russell Malton to nip in and poke the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0

Regent were very close to doubling the advantage in the 3rd minute when Phil Kelly won a corner on the right hand touchline, Aaron Condon delivered a peach of a cross skimming a Leiston head and hitting Adam Reakes on the back post who just couldn't steer his effort on target.

The R's did however double their lead in the 18th minute, as they continued to pile on the pressure, this time Aaron Condon got away from his man down the left, cut inside and crossed only for Leiston to half clear to the edge of the box for an awaiting Tom Richardson, who moved the ball onto his right foot and smashed it low and hard with his second touch past Charlie Beckwith in the Leiston goal. 2-0

Just two minutes later Aaron Condon nearly got onto the score sheet himself, once again he went past the Leiston Right back Blake Saker and got himself one on one with Beckwith, but his effort went agonising wide of the far post.

Regent continued the onslaught, in the 22nd minute Ricky Griggs was able to carry the ball forward, getting to the edge of the area to unleash a ferocious shot which was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the reflexes of Beckwith. The resulting corner Regent added the third, this time a Jake Turner corner was met by the head of Kieron Baker on the back post to head under the feet of Beckwith. 3-0

The R's added a forth on the next attack just 1 minute later with Aaron Condon getting his just reward. He once again got the better of Leiston's Saker and got himself some space inside the area and let go from his right foot with the ball going straight into the net. 4-0

The first half faded out with Leiston looking very much beaten with an exceptional display of attacking play by Regent. HT 4-0

Regent never let their performance drop and continued to dominate at the start of the second half and on the 53rd minute, Phil Kelly added a 5th for the R's, with the ball knocked forward, Condon jumped with the Goalkeeper Beckwith and he spilt the ball allowing Kelly to run in and volley home into an empty net. The Leiston players were protesting that Beckwith had been fouled, the referee deemed the challenge fair and the goal stood. 5-0

Regent went close again in the 67th minute, when young substitute Harry McDonald got through running at a tiresome defence, he got a strike at goal around 15 yards out but Beckwith made a fine save low to his right.

Leiston, with a changed formation and added strikers, got a goal back in the 69th minute when substitute winger Olly Brown got forward down the left to centre for Armani Schaar to acrobatically volley past Ollie Bowles in goal giving him no chance. 5-1

Regent hit back almost immediately, and just 3 minutes later they restored their 5 goal advantage. A wonderfully worked team goal which included more then 10 passes as Regent spread the ball up the pitch, eventually getting to Condon on the left who provided yet another assist, this time for substitute Mekhi McKenzie to knock home with a great finish inside the box. 6-1

The goal scoring didn't end there and Leiston added two more in quick succession, in the 75th minute Leiston attacked the Regent end with the ball coming out to Patrick Brothers on the edge of the box after Regent failed to clear their lines, Brothers flashed at goal, and despite Matt Cripps best efforts on the line the ball squeezed into the net. 6-2

3 minutes later Leiston made it 6-3, a long ball was knocked forward by Armani Schaar. With Defender Joe Jefford remaining the furthest forward, the ball fell to him to slash home inside the 6 yard box giving Ollie Bowles no chance in goal. 6-3

The game ended with Regent causing a cup upset beating Leiston who currently sit top and unbeaten in the Ryman Premier Division. FT 6-3

The second round will see the R's at home once again, this time they will face Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday 8th November.