Brightlingsea win at home

Brightlingsea Regent 3 Swaffham Town 2

A tentative start by both sides, in Brightlingsea's first home game of the season, back in the Ridgeons League after 10 years absence. Dean Mayes first start of the season saw him brought into action in the 7th minute, confidently saving from the Regent centre forward. The deadlock was broken in the 16th minute, Jack Redhead setting Luke Fell free to net his opening goal for Swaffham this season. Soon after the restart, a headed clearance from Matthew Parkinson, picked up by Joe Jackson, his cross met but vollied wide by Redhead. A further chance two minutes later, saw Jackson volley over from a free kick played in by David Spalding. Fell netted his second in the 34th minute, Jackson driving at the Brightlingsea defence, his shot rebounded off the keeper leaving a relatively easy knock in for Fell.

Early in the second half, Richard Cornwall replaced Aaron Clifford, suffering with a ham-string injury, his first touch producing a fine save from the Regent keeper. Cornwall thick in the action shooting over in the 55th minute. Brightlingsea broke through the Swaffham defence from the resulting free kick, Mayes bringing down the striker, penalty to the home side, struck into the top left corner. The equaliser came in the 62nd minute, a break down the right hand flank, the resultant cross met sweetly by the Regent number 10. The winner for the home side came with a minute of normal time left, Mayes unable to collect from a free kick, gifting an easy tap in. The Pedlars came close to retrieving a point, a Scott Voutt overhead kick, cleared from the line, Redhead ballooning his shot over from the rebound.

The furthest return journey for the Pedlars in the League competition, the opportunity to reflect on how the three points were lost in the 90 miles back to Swaffham.

Next Saturday we welcome Cambridge University Press to Shoemakers Lane, kick off 3pm.