There was wholesale changes for both sides going into this game. We made five changes to our side and Regent rested Phil Kelly and Aaron Condon but still had Tom Richardson and he proved to do the trick against Millers make-shift back line.

Saying that the game almost resembled that of our Ryman North match at our ground a few weeks ago.

We started superbly on his home debut Jeremiah Maja latched onto Joe Clark's free-kick and tapped in from close range to give us the lead within two minutes. Jeremiah's first goal for the club. Aveley 1-0 Brightlingsea Regent.

The Millers almost double the lead through Jordan Peart on the fifteen minute mark, Jack Edwards found Peart whose shot was blocked well by Regent skipper Josh Gould.

Regent came back into the game from the 20th minute and onwards. Arron Omand tipped over a Kieran Bishop cross that almost sneaked into the goal. And only a minute after that Joe Clark defended well, and looked to have won the ball, but a penalty was awarded. Tom Richardson stepped up and sent Omand the wrong way as Tom found the bottom corner. Aveley 1-1 Brightlingsea Regent.

The Millers came back and had a good chance, on his first start at the club Davidson Teejaiye saw his right footed effort deflected rather fortunately for Regent into the hands of their keeper.

Brightlingsea got their second and took the lead soon after Davidson's effort. A simple free kick by Aveley was headed back towards our goal and Tom Richardson ran through and simply tapped past the keeper. Aveley 1-2 Brightlingsea Regent.

Regent remained on top for the rest of the half, a good save from Arron Omand kept out McDonal from an acute angle, and that was followed up by a deflected Kieron Bishop header which looped just wide of the left hand post.

Half Time | Aveley 1-2 Brightlingsea Regent.

The Millers made a couple of changes at half time, Jack Edwards and Arian Retkoceri were replaced by Frankie Sinclair and Harry Prince.

Much like the first half we scored earlier into second half, on 18 seconds Davidson Teejaiye pounced on a cross which was handled poorly by the Brightlingsea keeper to pull the Millers level in the Essex Senior Cup 3rd Round tie. Aveley 2-2 Brightlingsea Regent.

The visitors came back strongly and Tom Richardson first saw his header goes wide of the right hand post when he was free in the box, and seconds later he fired an effort from a tight angle against the outside of the post.

At that time it really felt like it just wasn't going to be Brightlingsea's night. As the pace of Jordan Peart and persistence of Jeremiah Maja were causing them problems. Adalberto Pinto saw his volley from a corner fly past the post.

But the turning point of the game unfortunately came from a decision which in the end changed the game completely. Arron Omand came out his box well and made a great tackle to get the ball away. The referee awarded a free-kick booked our keeper, but then decided it was a penalty even thought the tackle happened on the D four yards outside the area. Tom Richardson stepped up and slotted it away for his hat-trick to help put Brightlingsea back in front. Aveley 2-3 Brightlingsea Regent.

The Millers frustration grew as Jeremiah Maja was denied superbly from Daniel Beeson as he pushed it out for a corner, however a goal kick was awarded.

We headed into the last ten minutes needing to push for the leveller which would've sent the match to penalties. However it didn't come off like that as Brightlingsea ended the contest. A whipped cross from the right hand side reached Harry McDonald and he tapped home from close range. Aveley 2-4 Brightlingsea Regent.

Unfortunately the scoring wasn't finished their as the visitors grabbed one more. Arron Omand got the ball stuck under his feet and was robbed by Kieron Baker who tapped into the empty net with the last kick of the game. Aveley 2-5 Brightlingsea Regent.

Full Time | Aveley 2-5 Brightlingsea Regent.

Attendance | 54.

Millers XI | Arron Omond, James Pugsley, Joseph Clark, Paul Seymour (Gaz Dauti, 61), Adalberto Pinto, Harry Gibbs, Jack Edwards (Frankie Sinclair, 45), Davidson Tejaiye, Jordan Peart, Jeremiah Maja, Arian Retkoceri (Harry Prince, 45).

Unused Substitutes | Billy Coyne, Lamar Johnson.

Brightlingsea Regent XI | Daniel Beeson, Ricky Griggs (Alex Taylor, 70), Russell Malton, Connor Witherspoon (Milo Downey, 70), Josh Gould, Warren Joseph, Harry McDonald, Kieron Baker, Tom Richardson (Byron Hatch, 70), George Doyle, Rob Harvey.

Unused Substitutes | Ollie Bowles, Matt Cripps.