Regent ease past Alresford

Regent opened their defence of the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Cup at home to near neighbours Alresford Colne Rangers on a cool, dry October evening.

Pip Boyland fielded a strong starting eleven of Turner; Nazor, Josh Gould, Cripps, Jake Gould; Griggs, Doyle, Yaxley, L. Howell; with Dunne and Hunt up front. The bench included Boyland, Adam Hampson and Charlie Lindoe.

After a frenetic opening ten minutes in which Alresford tried to match Regent’s intensity with an agricultural style of play, Regent went ahead when George Doyle’s delivery found Josh Gould who headed them into the lead and the same pair combined after 20 minutes to double the lead.

Concerns mounted about late challenges and robust tackling by Rangers and Charlie Turner was lucky to escape injury when he went down to save only for an Alresford forward to plough into him.

It was no surprise when Alresford’s captain was shown a straight red card mid-way through the half making an already uneven contest more unequal.

Billy Hunt found time and space to volley in a third before Ricky Griggs scored a fourth. Alresford had to thank their ‘keeper for denying Romario Dunne a fifth before half time as Regent peppered the away end with goal attempts.

Second half
Charlie Lindoe and Pip Boyland came on at half time replacing Ricky Griggs and the industrious Joe Yaxley.

Early on, Romario Dunne scored a deserved fifth only for Alresford to get one back at the other end when a great cross from the left was put away neatly to make it 5-1.

Regent kept up the pressure as Lamell Howell headed a sixth. By this time Regent had used all their substitutes and Romario Dunne was taken off as a precaution to make it ten against ten.

Rising frustration brought an incident in which two more Alresford players sent off, one for stamping and the other for apparent dissent.

Regent then wrapped the game up as Fahad Nazor won a penalty converted by Billy Hunt and in the final moments Adam Hampson chipped to ball over the goalkeeper for an eighth.

Match Verdict
Regent showed the pace, intensity and passing ability to win this game comfortably and will hope to replicate this on Saturday in their crucial match against fellow strugglers Wingate and Finchley.