Regent Out Of League Cup

Brightlingsea Regent travelled to Ryman Premier Division Billericay Town on Tuesday Evening for the 3rd Round of the Alan Turvey League Cup.

The was the 3rd meeting of the two sides this season with Billericay coming out winners on the previous meetings in the FA Cup and Essex Senior Cup.

The match started fairly even with no real clear cut chances up until the 14th minute when Billericay were given their first sight of goal. A goal kick from Dan Beeson was headed forward by Billericay centre half Alex Stephenson toward the edge of the Regent box, Matt Cripps looked to clear but slipped allowing Billy Bricknell to run on and slot the ball past Beeson in goal. 1-0

Billericay’s next real chance came in the 25th minute, when and a corner was delivered by Kam Guthny across the face of the Regent goal only to be turned over the bar by Gabby Adelowo from 3 yards out.

Regent’s first real effort on goal came on the half hour mark when the possession was turned over down the right-hand side by Connor Witherspoon and he played a ball inside to Aaron Condon who got his shot away from distance but was denied by the crossbar!
HT 1-0

Billericay could of and should have doubled the lead almost immediately after the restart, the ball was volleyed forward some 80 yards by the Billericay defender Alex Stephenson bouncing over Josh Gould’s head allowing Billy Bricknell to run on get his shot away, this time Dan Beeson made a good low save to deny the striker.

Regent were growing into the match and began to have more possession. In the 59th minute, Regent got the ball wide down the right with Aaron Condon, he laid it back to Ricky Griggs to send in the first time cross where Harry McDonald had beat his marker on the edge of the 6-yard box, but he was unable to divert his header either side of jack Giddens in goal and the keeper made a routine save.
Just moment later the lead was extended, Billericay played a ball down the right side for Billy Bricknell to give chase, Josh Gould came across to cover but was forced back to Dan Beeson who couldn’t control the back pass as it bounced out for Bricknell to half volley into the net. 2-0

Regent’s players heads never went down as they continued to look for a way back into the game. Jordan Barnett replaced Aaron Condon and he made an instant impact, he got the ball in the middle of the field and sent it wide for Tom Richardson. Richardson went at his man but was brought down by Ibrahim Diallo resulting in a free kick to Regent. The kick was floated into the box by Jake Turner and met by Tom Richardson who headed across goal for Josh Gould to head home. 2-1

The R’s continued to push for an equaliser creating some good half chances, with 12 minutes to go they could have had a penalty when Tom Richardson beat two players to get into the box, defender Alex Stephenson came across and appeared to have brought him down but the referee waved away the protests.

More chances were made by the R’s, 7 minutes from time Robbie Rees slipped in Phil Kelly on the Right and his effort across goal was denied again by Jack Giddens at full stretch to make the save. Despite Regent’s best efforts Billericay managed to see the game out and take the victory. FT 2-1

The R’s can take a lot of positives from the second half performance and now be ready to go again on Boxing Day with a trip away to Dereham. With all the cup competitions now passed the management can now focus on the league and trying to achieve promotion.
Merry Christmas to all our Supporters from everyone involved in the club