Brightlingsea Regent 1-4 BSFC Match Report

Brightlingsea Regent 1-4 Bishop’s Stortford Match Report 14/9/21

Bishop’s Stortford made it three consecutive wins with a 1-4 victory at Brightlingsea Regent. Ryan Charles scored his first goal of the season in the first half, while two goals in two minutes at the start of the second period from Archie Edwards – his first Blues goal – and Frankie Merrifield all but killed the game. A penalty by Ken Feyi gave the hosts a lifeline as they reduced the deficit, but Jake Cass continued his fine goal-scoring form to seal an emphatic win.

After a quick free kick in the Blues half, Jonny Giles was put through on goal but saw his shot blocked for a corner, which Giles took and Charles’ back heel flick at the front post fell to Merrifield, whose shot lacked power and Charlie Turner got down well to save. A testing corner from the Rs was well held by Jack Giddens on his goal line among a crowd of bodies, before both Feyi and Max Booth failed to convert a tap-in from Lewis Byrne-Hewitt’s brilliant low cross from the right, across the six-yard box. Brightlingsea were immediately punished as Edward’s long clearance was flicked off the head of Anthony Church into the path of Charles, who calmly went round the onrushing Turner and passed into an empty net. Merrifield nearly doubled the lead after he was sent through by Archie Jones down the right side, but Turner saved the shot from a tight angle with his legs.

HT 0-1

The fast start in the second half by the Blues flattened any hopes of Regent winning this match, with Edwards firing high into the roof of the net from the left hand side, making a late run from left back. That was followed up a minute later by Merrifield’s strike, which deflected off a defender and Turner as it went into the net from outside the box. Merrifield nearly doubled up with a header from Johnville Renee’s right wing cross, but pressure from the defender meant he headed wide. The introduction of Renee and Cass gave an extra boost to the Blues front line in the latter stages of the game. With Thomas flicking the ball back into the box after a clearance, Cass controlled it on his chest but captain Chris Ribchester recovered well and cleared. Thomas and Cass combined again moments later, with the midfielder crossing to the striker with his back to goal, took a touch and attempted an overhead kick from 15 yards, but Turner made a good diving save to deny him. Giles’ left wing cross was placed perfectly for a Renee half-volley, but Turner made a great low save, before Giddens conceded a penalty after a melee in the penalty area at a corner. Keyi stepped up and fired low into the bottom left corner, and a spell of pressure emerged for the hosts, with a number of corners in quick succession. But the Blues held on, and Cass added a fourth late on, Archie Jones pounced on a weak back pass by the left back, and unselfishly squared it to Cass who had an open goal to aim for. Bobby Unwin could have added a fifth off the bench, in injury time, his effort was just wide of the right post.

FT 1-4

The Blues host Bowers & Pitsea in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round on Saturday, before two more home games in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division, against Leatherhead and Enfield Town.

TEAMS

Brightlingsea Regent XI

1 Charlie Turner

2 Jamie Bennett (Sub Ager 66’)

3 Billy Wales

4 Charlie Durling (Sub Gregory 78’)

5 Chris Ribchester (c)

6 Jake Thompson

7 Marcus Gouldbourne

8 Harry McDonald

9 Ken Feyi (Yellow card 45’) ( Goal pen 75’)

10 Max Booth

11 Lewis Byrne-Hewitt (Sub Gilbert 56’)

Subs

12 Dean Ager

14 Kane Gilbert

15 Cadell Fraser-Robinson

16 Reggie Gregory

17 Zach Smith-Walter

Blues XI

1 Jack Giddens (Yellow card 74’)

3 Archie Edwards (Goal 49’)

4 Anthony Church

6 Ryan Henshaw (c) (Yellow card 23’)

7 Jonny Giles (Sub Unwin 71’)

10 Frankie Merrifield (Goal 50’) (Sub Cass 59’)

12 Jack Thomas

14 Archie Jones

15 Ryan Charles (Goal 28’) (Sub Renee 46’)

16 Reiss Chandler

19 Jimmy Wallace

Subs

8 Charlie Allum

9 Jake Cass (Goal 84’)

11 Johnville Renee

18 Bobby Unwin

20 James Baker

Attendance 212