Brightlingsea Regent boss James Webster admitted that he had to “get stuck into” his players during their half-time break to ensure they picked up another three Ryman League division north points against Witham Town.

Regent ended the game as 4-1 winners and moved into second – level on points with leaders Maldon & Tiptree – in the table with their win at North Road.

It extended their run to eight wins and a draw from their last nine in all competitions.

They achieved their latest successe with a Tom Richardson brace and strikes from Shamido Pedulu and Matt Cripps, but Webster said he wasn’t happy with his team’s first-half performance.

He said: “We took an early lead, which is always good but we didn’t take control of the game and I felt it was far too open compared to what it should have been.

“Witham are a good side and they worked hard, especially in the first half.

“They out-worked us and controlled the midfield and we couldn’t really get the ball.

“So, personally, I felt we were a tad fortunate to come in leading two-one at half-time.

“It could easily have been two-two or us three-two behind as Witham had their chances.

“Fortunately they didn’t take them but we had to get stuck into the players a bit at half-time because we were disappointed with the work rate and the attitude towards the game.

“In the second half, though, I thought we got a better control of it.

“There are no easy games in this league and they know that – most of our boys have played in this league for three or four years now – but sometimes you get drawn into league positions.

“With the run we’re on, there may be a feeling that we only have to turn up, but that’s not the case whether you’re playing bottom of the league or the top.

“You have to go out and do the basics well, but we didn’t do that.

“Second half, we managed to get control of it and I felt we took the game away from them, but the first half was far too open for me.

“I was pleased with the reaction in the second half.

“We worked harder, we got control and scored our chances when we got them.”