BRIGHTLINGSEA REGENT 4 WITHAM TOWN 1

Ryman League division north

Like a number of teams before them, Witham Town found themselves unable to stand in the way of Brightlingsea Regent’s impressive climb up the Ryman League division north rankings.

It was an entertaining game full of attacking flair from both sides, but the form book wasn’t to be upset as Regent extended their run to nine games unbeaten with a 4-1 victory.

They have won eight of those nine games in all competitions and had a clinical edge – as well as the ability to take advantage of a couple of slips at the back by Witham – to add another three points to their tally.

Kick-off at the start was delayed by 15 minutes after a number of the Witham players were held up in traffic on their way to the game and their passage into the game wasn’t aided by a quick start from the hosts.

Brightlingsea took the lead in just the second minute and it came from a source familiar to the longer-standing members of Witham’s fanbase.

They were well aware of the pace of Shamido Pedulu during his time as a youngster with their club, but would have been disappointed to see it used with devastating effect against them in the early stages.

Pedulu took full advantage of a slip at the back by James Regis, shrugged off a challenge and raced in on goal before shooting low into the net past Lewis Down in the Witham goal.

It was a setback for the visitors, but Witham responded well and went close to pulling level in the seventh minute.

A ball was lofted to Nathan Koranteng at the back post by Luke Mallett and he fired a low effort that Regent keeper Daniel Beeson did well to get down to and claw away.

Their sharp movement going forward was rewarded in the 17th minute when a break down the left saw Koranteng drill a low cross across the face of the goal.

It was perfectly placed to where Michael Osei was waiting to tuck the ball into the back of the Brightlingsea net.

Having got themselves level, though, Witham soon found themselves pushed back.

Regent threatened with Josh Gould’s long throws into the Witham area and they were almost gifted a goal in the 24th minute thanks to a calamitous mix-up at the back between Down and Regis.

With the two Witham players presenting the ball to Aaron Condon and Down well out of his goal, the Brightlingsea striker’s snap shot was just wide of the target.

The pace and power of the Regent front line was a handful for a Witham defence that looked static at times and Condon shot just wide after a strong break by Phil Kelly that left the visitors exposed.

Witham were then cut open by a 35th minute move that ended with Tom Richardson’s effort only being kept out by the boot of Down, however, it was a short-lived reprieve.

Down’s save had gone out for a corner and when Jake Turner launched it into the middle, Regent skipper Matt Cripps glanced a header in to regain the lead.

The end-to-end nature of the game continued, though, as a thoroughly entertaining first half came to an end.

Strong running from Witham’s Tim Monsheju opened a chance for Ryan Charles, but he blasted over from a central position.

And the half ended with Usman Adeniji doing well to loft a cross to the back post where Ricky Griggs had to head clear to cut out the danger and an overhead effort by Osei being saved by Beeson.

It meant Regent held on to their slender lead at half-time, but it was a similarly lively start to the game after the break with both teams looking to get ion the front foot.

Witham threatened without really creating too much in the way of clear cut chances, but they were caught out by a clinical finish in the 59th minute as the hosts scored their third goal of the night.

A ball forward from midfield left Witham’s defence looking for an offside decision, but Richardson broke the trap and made no mistake with his shot past Down.

Witham realised they had it all to do and only the outstretched leg of Josh Gould stopped them from halving the deficit after Monsheju showed good strength to win the ball and fire off a shot.

However, their defence was opened again when Down was unable to make a clearance in the 69th minute.

His mis-kick landed at the feet of Condon, who had time and space to pick out an unmarked Robinson and he had the simplest of tasks in heading in his second goal of the game.

Now trailing by three goals, Witham made a triple substitution by introducing John Watson, Lance Akins and Lewis Payne.

However, the game had gone by that point and there was no way back for the visitors as Brightlingsea saw the game out with ease.

Brightlingsea Regent: Daniel Beeson, Ricky Griggs, Jake Gould (Alex Taylor), Connor Witherspoon, Josh Gould, Matt Cripps (Kieron Baker), Smaido Pedulu, Jake Turner, Tom Richardson, Phil Kelly, Aaron Condon (Harry McDonald). Subs not used: Robbie Lee, Robert Harvey.

Witham Town: Lewis Down, Luke Mallett, Alex Anderson, Kofi Gyebi, Pat Ahern (Lewis Payne), James Regis (Lance Akins),, Nathan Koranteng, Michael Osei, Tim Monsheju, Ryan Charles(John Watson), Usman Adeniji. Subs not used: Tom Robinson, Scott Kemp.