Brightlingsea Regent traveled to Ship Lane, Home of Thurrock for their latest Bostik Premier fixture.
James Webster had been forced into wholesale changes due to injuries. Skipper Matt Cripps (Hamstring) and Josh Gould (Heel) sat out, along with Phil Kelly, Tom Richardson and the long term injured Pip Boyland. Ricky Griggs was able to feature from the bench. This meant James Love and Connor Witherspoon went to Center backs and Connor Hogan came in at right back. Freddie Gard partnered Billy Hunt up top and Aaron Condon took the captain band.
Regent started the game with attacking intent, Jake Gould was able to get forward, after just 8 minutes, Gouldy was given time and space on the left side to Centre a delightful ball across goal which went just shy of Robbie Rees’s head.
The R’s did however deservedly take the lead after 17 minutes. George Doyle was tripped on the edge of the box after a driving run, he then took the freekick himself and dispatched it straight into the top corner of the net giving the Thurrock goalkeeper Jake Jessup no chance. 0-1
The hosts pulled level on the half hour mark, when a throw deep into the Regent half was taken by Remi Sutton, this found Dennis Oli inside the box who was able to control and turn to smash Home his volley. 1-1
Regent forced the Last real chance of the half, Jake Gould again allowed to get forward, he played a ball inside to Freddie Gard, who was able to set himself and strike, but his effort went just past the post. HT 1-1
The second half got underway and Regent flurried forward in numbers and regained the lead almost straight away. George Doyle down the left played the ball into Billy Hunt, he hit the by line and fired across goal for the ball to be turned home by Fleets George Winn. 1-2
11 minutes later, Regent added a third. When Remi Sutton was caught in possession at the back, Robbie Rees stole the ball from him, he advanced towards goal getting his shot away. This forced a good save from Jake Jessop but Billy Hunt was following in to tuck home the rebound. 1-3
The R’s were dominating at this point, keeping possession. Billy Hunt was denied his second and Regent’s forth in the 70th minute, he received the ball wide right, skipping past two defenders he got a ferocious shot at goal which was excellently tipped over by Jake Jessop.
With 7 minutes remaining, Thurrock found a way back into the game forcing a tense finally. Another throw found its way to Charlie Stimpson around the penalty spot to volley past Sam Cowler. 2-3
With that, the dying minutes of the game saw Thurrock equalise! Another throw is centred and the ball was only half cleared to safety on the edge of the area where it eventually landed to Lewwis Spence who steered his low effort into the bottom corner! FT 3-3
A sickener for the Regent to take, it felt like two points thrown away in what was an excellent performance. A point away from Home nonetheless, this coming Tuesday we host Kingstonian in a bid to get back to winning ways and keep up the good Home record
Up the R’s
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
18. | Merstham | 46 | 56 |
19. | Needham Market | 46 | 49 |
20. | Brightlingsea Regent | 46 | 48 |
21. | Harlow Town | 46 | 47 |
22. | Lowestoft Town | 46 | 43 |
23. | Burgess Hill Town | 46 | 36 |
24. | Tooting & Mitcham United | 46 | 36 |