Cray’s promotion hopes suffered a further set back as they surrendered a two goal lead to Brightlingsea and lost Uche Ibemere to a broken leg in an afternoon to forget for The Wands at Hayes Lane on Saturday.

Cary began the game in lively fashion moving the ball round well and looking to find a way past the hard working regent side.

Ben Hunt had an effort saved by Sam Cowler before they home side eventually took the lead on 14 minutes when Dean Carpenter’s through ball found Hunt again who coolly found the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Brightlingsea came close to equalising when Russell Malton had a header saved by Nicky Blue, but The Wands extended their lead on 21 minutes when Ben Payne’s long ball over the top found Hunt who once again scored with a great finish past Cowler from 15 yards.

Regent responded instantly though when Malton broke down the right and found Jake Clowsley in space who calmly slid the ball past Blue to make it 2-1.

Four minutes later it was 2-2 when Nathan Fox gave the ball away just outside his own area and Malton hit a great curling 20 yard strike strike past Blue to equalise.

Cray fell to pieces from that moment on, losing Carpenter to injury and losing any attacking impetus they gave the ball away far too often and couldn’t create anything going into the break.

The second half saw Brightlingsea take the initiative from the off and were 3-2 up within a minute as Malton notched his second goal of an impressive game driving into the box and crashing the ball home past Blue.

Clowsley forced a save from Blue soon after following more good work from Malton, before Cray finally showed some fight to get back into the game with James Duckworth having an effort deflected over.

Then just as things began to improve sub Uche Ibemere received the ball for the first time and had his leg broken in the resulting tackle.

After a lengthy spell of treatment and with his team mates clearly upset by the incident he was eventually stretched off the field clearly in agony with his left leg in a brace.

Understandably for a spell both sides seemed subdued and there was little incident, but as the half went on Cray continued to over play at the back and Regent pressed high and kept them pinned back. Matt Cripps had an effort saved by Blue as did sub Shamido Pedulu and Jake Turner hit the inside of the post with a header which bounced into Blue’s arms on the line as the visitors looked to kill the game off.

Late on in the seven minutes of added time Cray rallied and tried to create chances, but they only had Duckworth’s wayward strike to show for their efforts as Brightlingsea ran out worthy winners.

 

Cray: Blue, Osifuwa, Basey, Fox, Payne, Carpenter (Smith 31), Roberts, Tajbakhsh, Dent (Ibemere 61, Bremner 62), Hunt, Duckworth.

Subs Not Used: Dawson, Faulkner.

Brightlingsea: Cowler, Malton, Gould, Joseph, Cripps, Read, Turner, Rymer (Phillips 84), Clowsley (Pedulu 75), Griggs.

Subs Not Used:  Houghton, Kelly, Lee.

Goals: Cray – Hunt 11 & 21mins. Regent – Clowsley 24, Malton 28 & 46mins.

HT 2-2 FT 2-3

Att: 103

Referee: Mr S Brown