Regent shock the Jammers!

Following Felixstowe and Walton United’s hammering at the hands of Waltham Abbey on Saturday, second place Maldon and Tiptree had the chance to replace them at the top of the table- but hosts Brightlingsea Regent had other ideas!

After a slow start to the campaign Regent are beginning to show the form that took them to the Promotion Final last season, and they went ahead on fourteen minutes, Daniel Rowe the scorer. Nine minutes before half time it was two-nil, Matthew Tricker with that one, and just before the hour the shellshocked Jammers conceded a third, Harry McDonald with that one. 

The visitors then roused themselves. A goal from Cameron James six minutes from time gave them hope, and they got a second in added time, Matt Yates with it- but it wasn’t enough, as Regent held on for victory.

Regent are eleventh, and six unbeaten- with five wins, whilst Maldon stay second- a point away from the summit with a game in hand. That was the first time this season the Jammers had conceded more than two goals in the lead- indeed the only side to score more against them are Port Vale! 

Witham Town climbed to sixth place after victory over Newmarket Town- and Witham will be delighted, as they recovered brilliantly from an early double blow. The travelling Jockeys went ahead in the first minute, Josh Lee the scorer, and on three minutes Stan Leech added another as the home fans scratched their heads in bemusement. The visitors then gave themselves a problem, Oscar Dean dismissed on twenty two minutes, and that changed the game.

Ernest Okoh halved the deficit for the hosts only five minutes later, and they were level before the break, Sam Bantick scoring from the spot. Just before the hour Archie McFadden put Witham ahead for the first time, and on sixty nine minutes Ben Allen made it four-two, clinching the points. That’s five unbeaten for Witham- one defeat in their last eight. 

Walthamstow brought a ten match winless run into their match against Mildenhall Town, and delighted the home fans by ensuring it wouldn’t stretch to eleven- but it took them rather a long time to make sure of the points. Chris Manangu gave them the lead midway through the first half, but Hall had a chance until Callum Ibe scored from the spot only seven minutes from time. Four minutes after that, another spot kick, another Ibe goal, and three points went with the three goals for the East Londoners. 

Deep in added time both sides saw a player sent off, Scott Simmons for the hosts, Josh Colins for the visitors. 

Stow climb out of the bottom four. Hall are two points better off. 

Tilbury were at home to Stanway Rovers, and they were ahead for most of the match, but ended up with nothing to show for their efforts. Tobias Braney put the Dockers ahead on twelve minutes, but nineteen minutes from time Nat Mardell levelled for Rovers, and thirteen minutes later the same player gave his side all of the points from the spot. Rovers climb to ninth. 

Our Velocity Cup Fourth Round ties this week kicked off on Monday, and they kicked off with a shock. Aveley will host our Final, but the hosts most definitely won’t be in it as they were knocked out by North Division Redbridge- at Parkside. 

The travelling Motormen started at top speed, Solomon Ogunwomoju putting them ahead after five minutes and Kaya Hayrettin making it two only two minutes later. Midway through the first half Ryan Charles got the hosts back into the match, and soon afterwards it was two-two, Jayden Gipson with the equaliser. A red card for Prince Sikiru on the half hour seemed to leave the visitors with an uphill challenge, and Aveley went three-two up just before the hour, Joshua Colyer giving them the lead for the first time, but a spot kick from Malachi Napa made it three-three six minutes later. 

It seemed we were heading inexorably towards a penalty shootout, but seven minutes into added time the travelling ten men delivered a killer blow, Kai Thomas-Fraser finding a winner.