Manager Liam Bailey handed debuts to Jayden Randell, Harrison Chatting and Louis Britton- all
of whom have joined since the last League game 2 weeks ago. There was also a start in goal
for Luca Collins as the Jammers looked to build on some positive performances in recent
weeks.

The match took a while to get going, but it was Maldon that created the first half chance of the
afternoon just after the 20 minute mark when good pressing from Chatting forced the turnover.
He took the shot on himself, but fired just over the bar from distance.

A couple of minutes later, it was Regent who nearly took the lead, as Olly Sotoyinbo found
space in the box and clipped a shot over the onrushing Luca. Fortunately for Maldon, his shot
was just a bit too high and the ball bounced off the crossbar and away.
On the half hour, Regent were denied by the woodwork again when Manny Ogunrinde burst into
the box and cracked his effort against the post. As a fully paid up member of the Goalkeeper’s
Union, I’m saying Luca definitely got a touch to it......

The hosts were gradually establishing more of a stranglehold on the game and with 38 minutes
on the board, they took the lead. Another ball through the middle was pounced on by Agyakwa,
who made no mistake to lift the ball over Collins to the delight of the home fans who were in fine
voice all afternoon.

It was nearly 2-0 a couple of minutes later as Ogunrinde tried to repeat Agyakwa’s trick, but his
effort landed the wrong side of the post (from a Regent perspective, at least) and Maldon were
reprieved.
Ogunrinde had a golden opportunity just before half-time, beating Randell to the ball on the
bounce before putting his effort into the car park.

Within minutes of the start of the 2nd half, Regent had loud appeals for a penalty turned down
by the referee.

Maldon managed to work their way into the 2nd period and were denied an equaliser by the
woodwork on 55 minutes. Britton beat the offside trap and put a great ball in from the right
where he found Remi who managed to get a shot away in spite of close attention from the
defence. The Jammers man took a heavy blow for his troubles as his shot cannoned back of the
post.

With an hour gone, Brightlingsea were awarded a penalty after a push in the Maldon box from a
corner. Sotoyinbo stepped up and buried the ball high to Luca’s right to double the lead for the
hosts.

The hosts looked comfortable, playing the ball about well and making Maldon work for any
possession they had.

Then with 15 minutes left, they put the game to bed in spectacular fashion thanks to an absolute
worldie from Agyakwa as he unleashed a thunderbolt from the outside of the box, leaving
Collins with no chance as the ball nestled into the top left of his net.
You could only stand and applaud it, it was a stunning goal.

Minutes later, they nearly did it again to make it 4 but a carbon copy of Agyakwa’s effort
smashed of the underside of the crossbar and bounced away.

With 5 minutes left, the Jammers forced keeper Lewis Greene into his first meaningful save of
the afternoon thanks to a fierce effort from centre back Gipson who’d broken into the Regent
box.

The hosts had once last chance to ice the cake in the dying minutes, but again found the
crossbar in the way as a header from corner was the latest effort to test the resolve of the
woodwork.

A silly second yellow for Charlie Durling in stoppage time for dragging back Andre Hassanally
couldn’t spoil what had been a largely routine afternoon for Brightlingsea.

The Jammers look to regroup and welcome Enfield to Park Drive next Saturday as we look to
kickstart our season.