Non-League and Academy football writer

On Tuesday evening I was in attendance at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, to watch a Velocity Cup third round fixture between Enfield Town (of the Isthmian League Premier Division) and Brightlingsea Regent (of the Isthmian League North Division). It was to be the visitors who would book their place in the fourth round of the competition, despite playing in a league lower than Enfield Town, with them winning 1-0 on the night. Enfield Town started the match well against Brightlingsea, and early on in the game, following a good lofted pass from Enfield’s Ollie Knight into the Brightlingsea box, Lewis Taaffe had a volleyed effort saved by Brightlingsea goalkeeper Lewis Greene. Soon after that chance, Enfield came close to taking the lead again. Obi Onyeagwara’s cross into the Brightlingsea box resulted in Gucci Soulya-Osekanogo glancing a header just wide of the Brightlingsea goal. For the visiting side, Derek Asamoah had an effort from the edge of the Enfield penalty area gathered by goalkeeper Rhys Forster, before Enfield again came close to scoring.

A long ball forward from Kyle Bailey to pick out the run of Reece Beckles-Richards inside the Brightlingsea penalty area, resulted in the Enfield player hitting the post from his effort. A one two with a teammate on the edge of the Brightlingsea box, resulted in Enfield Town captain Mickey Parcell having an effort saved by Greene. At the opposite end of the pitch, and after receiving Derek Asamoah’s pass on the edge of the Enfield box, Marlon Agyakwa hit an effort over the Enfield goal. Having taken a knock earlier on in the match following a collision, Enfield Town goalkeeper Rhys Forster could no longer continue, and as there was no substitute goalkeeper on the bench for Enfield, outfield player Reece Beckles-Richards went in goal for the home side. After Marcus Wyllie had hit an effort wide from the edge of the Brightlingsea box, Enfield had two efforts in quick succession that were blocked by the Brightlingsea defence. Max Jolliffe hit an effort wide of the Enfield goal, before a penalty kick was awarded to the home side at the opposite end of the pitch, after the ball had been handled by a Brightlingsea player.

Marcus Wyllie, the top scorer in the Isthmian League Premier Division, stepped-up to take the penalty. However, his powerful effort hit the underside of the bar, before being cleared away. Marcus Wyllie then had a powerful effort from the edge of the Enfield box saved well by Lewis Greene in the Brightlingsea goal, just before half-time. During the early stages of the second half and following a cross into the Brightlingsea box, Lewis Greene once again made a fine save, before Mickey Parcell hit a low deflected effort wide of the goal. On 61 minutes however, Brightlingsea Regent took the lead in the game, against the run of play. Kojo Apenteng’s free-kick delivery into the Enfield penalty area, saw him pick out Zack Littlejohn, who headed the ball past Reece Beckles-Richards from close range, to give the away side the lead. After taking the lead the visitors were defending their one goal advantage really well. After Enfield had hit the crossbar following a corner kick, Marcus Wyllie had a headed effort on goal superbly tipped over the crossbar by the excellent Lewis Greene.

After Marcus Wyllie had then shown some good skill on the ball, he hit the top of the Brightlingsea crossbar, following a good effort. Lewis Greene then saved Sam Youngs’ free-kick effort on goal, as Brightlingsea continued to give everything that they possibly could to hold on to their lead. Enfield Town had been on top for the vast majority of the game. After Lewis Taaffe had a low effort blocked, Brightlingsea captain Jake Thompson had a headed effort on goal saved by Reece Beckles-Richards. However, Brightlingsea held on to their lead well in the final minutes of the game, to make sure of their place in round four of the Velocity Cup. This was a really good team performance by Brightlingsea Regent, who were up against a very good side in Enfield Town, but they defended really well, but most importantly of all they took their chance in front of goal. New signing Derek Asamoah (it was good to meet Derek after the game) impressed with his leading of the line and movement off the ball once again, and his work rate and tracking back was very good and important for Brightlingsea. However, it was the visitors’ goalkeeper Lewis Greene, who was my man of the match, not only for the countless impressive saves that he made against Enfield, but also for how well he commanded his penalty area. Well done to Brightlingsea Regent on their progression to the next round of the competition.