In what was a difficult game before it, the Millers fell short of expectations as Brightlingsea put three past the Millers as Regent kept up their charge on Maldon & Tiptree.

Our last win against Brightlingsea came back in 2014 and we had not conceded at North Road either since Regent won promotion to the Ryman North. But games this season against Regent have not been good ones at all for the Millers.

With a 4-1 loss in the reverse fixture in the Ryman North and a 5-2 loss in the Essex Senior Cup round of 16 now has meant we have conceded 12 times against Regent in three games this season.

Brightlingsea started the match fast and the lively Aaron Condon tested Millers keeper Lamar Johnson who tipped it around the post.

Harry Gibbs made a couple of good runs down the right hand side but balls into the box, although good, no one could get onto the end of them.

Mason Bloomfield had a snapshot from around 30 yards out which forced Sam Cowler into a save.

The hosts ramped the pressure up and it was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Tom Richardson somehow missed the target after he headed a Robbie Rees cross come shot from inside the six yard box over the bar.

Lamar Johnson then pulled off saves only he could. One brilliant fingertip Seaman esk as he clawed it out from going in, from the rebound he saved with his body and the third effort the ball cannoned off of his legs.

The Millers Captain was in the thick of it again soon after as he was on hand to tip over a Jake Turner pile driver from the edge of the area to keep the scores level again.

But that Lamar Johnson resistance could only stop so much as a mammoth long throw from Josh Gould skimmed off of the head of Tommy Spillane and into the top corner to put Brightlingsea Regent ahead. Brightlingsea 1-0 Aveley.

After conceding against an inform team the worst thing to do is to concede another, and unfortunately just 68 seconds later Regent doubled their lead through top scorer Aaron Condon. After the Millers failed to clear their lines, Aaron Condon was slipped in and he thundered it under Lamar Johnson for the hosts second. Brightlingsea 2-0 Aveley.

Half Time | Brightlingsea 2-0 Aveley

At half time the Millers made two changes as we hoped to claw back into the game, but those plans were instantly out of the window as Aaron Condon made it 3-0 within four minutes of the restart to effectively end the contest. Phil Kelly went down with what looked to be a head injury, the advantage was played as Aaron Condon dribbled past three Aveley players and finished with aplomb into the bottom corner. Brightlingsea 3-0 Aveley.

The R's should've been even more out of sight with a couple more guilt edge chances. Phil Kelly raced through but was denied by Lamar Johnson, from that the ball was recycled to Tom Richardson who couldn't get enough behind the effort to force Lams into a save.

The Millers continued to try and get back into the game, a nice George Woodward cross found Kris Newby at the back post whose header was denied by the back of Josh Gould's head and cleared away.

The last twenty minutes was much better than the previous 70 as Mason Bloomfield managed to out wrestle his marker burst down the line and whip in a delightful squared cross to Jeremiah Maja, but before he could apply the finishing touch Russell Malton was on hand to clear well a couple of yards out.

There were three yellow cards dished out on the day, Tommy Spillane was booked for pulling back the arm of Phil Kelly when he looked to be getting away from him. And Kris Newby and Aaron Condon were both shown a card for what the referee deemed was "handbags".

Deep into added on time the Millers got one back through an own goal. Max Mitchell crossed well and Regent's very own Russell Malton sliced it past Sam Cowler into the back of the net. Brightlingsea 3-1 Aveley.

After that goal Aveley seemed to look much more dangerous and offensive but in the end it was much too little too late to have any real chance of getting a result at Brightlingsea.

Next up for the Millers is this Tuesday Night away at Norwich United, Plantation Field, 7.45PM Kick Off.

Full Time | Brightlingsea 3-1 Aveley