Honours Even In All Essex Ryman Clash - Brightlingsea Regent vs. Barkingside

View from one of the stands at North Road

I had a couple of choices for games this week and after reading a bit about Brightlingsea it was an easy choice. Brightlingsea were pipped to the Eastern Counties League title by Hadleigh United (a game I witnessed) last season but as Hadleigh didn't opt for promotion and so Brightlingsea were promoted to The Ryman League for the first time. Barkingside themselves hadn't been in the Ryman League long themselves, winning promotion in the 2012-13 despite also finishing second. I had seen Barkingside play in Essex once before and the omens for today were not good as they lost heavily to Witham who were also on their way to The Ryman League that season. Both sides had made indifferent starts to the season and were both just a couple of points above the relegation zone.

Kick off at a very sunny North Road

Barkingside are on the attack from the off and following a quick break, the initial cross isn't fully cleared and the Regent keeper is forced in to an early save. The keepers good save is soon forgotten as he drops an inconspicuous cross in to his own to gift the visitors the lead. The Barkingside goalie then also has a moment of madness but fortunately for him, his defence bails him out. The defenders though are helpless as Brightlingsea equalise with a bullet header from a corner kick. Brightlingsea now have the momentum and when a long throw in to the box causes chaos in the Barkingside box, the defender has clear a shot off the line with the keeper well beaten. Another long throw causes chaos once again and the keeper makes two good close range saves before a third effort is scuffed wide. Barkingside have the final chance of the half with a chance from a corner which is just cleared away.  

The Brightlingsea equaliser

Brightlingsea should take the lead right at the start of the second half. Barkingside struggle again to deal with the long throw which lands the feet of the forward who somehow manages to blast the ball over from only a few yards out. They come close again when a cross from out wide is flicked just over the bar. Barkingside's first chance of the half comes when the Brightlingsea keeper makes a fantastic save from a headed effort following a free kick from the left. Barkingside are perhaps a tad lucky to keep eleven men on the pitch when the forward is fouled when he appears to be through on goal. The defender is only booked and the resulting free kick is flicked away at the back post. The game is really opening up now and the Brightlingsea keeper makes a good low save after the winger turns the full back. Brightlingsea comes desperately close when the ball is headed against the bar and then kicked away to safety. The home side have one final chance when a cross finds the forward in space but he misses the target.

Wing play in the first half

As with Soham last week, there hasn't been a train station in Brightlingsea for a number of years. To get there I had to take a train from Liverpool Street to Colchester Town which takes just under an hour. From here Osborne Street is a short walk from the station and you can catch the 87 bus to Brightlingsea and this section of the journey takes forty minutes or so. In retrospect I wish I had arrived earlier to walk along the waterfront but I was still able a bit of the town. Right by the waterfront is The Yachtsmans Arms which is good for a post waterside stroll drink. From here I went to The Railway Tavern which is one of the pubs of the season. There was a great selection of beers and the inhabitants were out in force at the game. The clubhouse was decent and had Sky Sports on the big screen. While I was waiting for the bus I went to The Kings Head where you watch out for the bus. All in all one of the best away trips in a long time. 

View of the stand which was brought up from the Isle Of Wight on a truck