Blues 3 Brightlingsea Regent 2

On a decent night for football, Leiston were without the injured Christy Finch and Marcus Garnham for this MATCH SPONSORED BY HOOPERS ARCHITECTS. Harry Lay-Fulcher and Patrick Brothers came in for the two absentees while Dominic Docherty came back in for Robert Eagle who dropped to the bench. Adam Blades and Harry Knights were promoted  into the squad in place of  Sam Ford and Regan Pelling. 

Both sides started with an attacking intent, but it was Brightlingsea who had the first attempt on Harry Lay-Fulcher’s goal. Tom Richardson had a shot inside the box that Harry Lay-Fulcher easily dealt with. Aaron Condon let fly with a volley moments later but Harry Lay-Fulcher dived high to his left to palm away. Leiston’s first decent opportunity came when Tom Bullard’s run and deft chip to Matt Blake, who in turn tee'd up Dominic Docherty but he turned his shot wide of Sam Cowler’s right hand post. Patrick Brothers had a shot deflected wide for a corner kick and from the corner, Leiston took the lead. Joe Marsden’s corner from the left was directed to the back post and Joe Jefford headed past Cowler. The lead didn’t last long though. Just a minute later, Aaron Condon smashed home from the edge of the area into Harry Lay-Fulcher’s bottom left hand corner to restore parity. Tom Richardson had another chance for the visitors from a corner but he headed straight at Harry Lay-Fulcher. A good interception from Jack Ainsley saw him release Seb Dunbar who drive forward from left back and cut inside to send a stinging shot just past Sam Cowler’s left hand post. Matt Blake shot was narrowly off target before Leiston regained the lead in the 35th minute. Another Joe Marsden corner was this time met by Jack Ainsley who prodded in from close range. Byron Lawrence wasted a free kick and shot over the top of the crossbar. With virtually the last kick of the half, Joe Marsden brilliantly cleared a Brightlingsea effort off the line.

Early in the second half following a clearance by Brightlingsea, Joe Marsden tried an audacious volley from thirty yards but Sam Cowler dealt with it well. Harry Lay-Fulchee dropped a ball into the box and Joe Jefford cleared the danger with Regent’s first attack of the half. Both teams were trying to play the ball along the deck and after putting Leiston under some pressure, Brightlingsea levelled for a second time. From a corner, Leiston failed to clear and Tom Richardson controlled well to shoot into the bottom left hand corner. Harry Lay-Fulcher saved George Doyle’s free kick with another Brightlingsea attack soon after. Dominic Docherty stroked over the bar after a flick by Matt Blake from a Joe Marsden corner. Byron Lawrence, Seb Dunbar and lastly Chris Henderson linked up well but the latter’s cross was cut out. Robbie Rees was dismissed for a second bookable offence and Regent were down to ten men. Matt Blake struck right footed from a distance with his effort going just past the post. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Leiston went ahead for a third time. A good team move ended with Byron Lawrence curling left footed into Cowler’s top right hand corner. Joe Marsden had a shot deflected wide, and Tom Bullard then headed a corner over. Brightlingsea had a couple of half chances but Leiston stood firm and saw the game out for three more valuable points.

FT - Blues 3 Brightlingsea Regent 2

Blues - Lay-Fulcher, Marsden, Dunbar, Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson, Blake, Brothers, Docherty. Subs not used - Saker, Blades, Eagle, Knights and Beckwith.

Brightlingsea Regent - Cowler, Love, Rees, Witherspoon (Kelly 56 mins, Gard 79 mins), Josh Gould, Cripps (Hogan 74 mins), Harvey, Bedford, Richardson, Doyle, Condon. Subs not used - Jake Gould and Hunt.

Match Sponsors Hoopers Architects Limited Man of the match - Chris Henderson.

Attendance - 249