In a game devoid of real chances, the Yachtsmen ran out victors at a blustery North Road. A goal from a Tom Cullumbine cross-cum-shot was enough to bring the points back to Norfolk.

The game had to pass a morning pitch inspection and damage to the Brightlingsea clubhouse prior to the game as Storm Katie paid a visit to Essex overnight. In fact, the pitch was in good condition although the strong wind was still a factor during the game. The Yachtsmen made two changes to the side that were beaten at Trafford Park on Saturday. Jordan King and Jamie Forshaw dropped to the bench as Jackson Ramm returned to the starting XI whilst Joel Potter stepped up from the bench.

For the first half, Regent had the strong wind behind them and Wroxham ‘keeper Elliot Pride was having difficulty with his clearances which held up in the wind. The home side failed to make much of the breeze apart from some long throws by Josh Gould which were arrowed in to the six-yard box. In the main, Elliot Pride dealt with them well either punching clear or marshalling his defence so that the danger didn’t materialize into something worse.

The only real incident of note came after 20 minutes. A Brightlingsea corner from the left rebounded to Keiron Baker who turned magnificently and got his shot off, but Elliot Pride got down well and pushed the ball out for another corner.

On 23 minutes, Wroxham came close to opening the scoring. A neat through-ball by Nick Davey to Jack Garrod set the wide man on the attack. After beating the defender, Garrod fired in a thunderbolt which cannoned off the offside of the left upright. Nick Davey and Jack Garrod were again involved in Wroxham’s next chance. A free kick from the Wroxham half by Pride was headed back by Davey to Jack Garrod who fired his volley wide of the goal.

The half petered out as Wroxham held firm in the face of the aerial balls aided by the strong wind that Brightlingsea were aiming towards goal.

In the 48th minute, Wroxham’s Nick Bailey earned the Yachtsmen’s first yellow card as he brought down Jake Turner on the edge of the penalty area. Soon after Matt Halliday hobbled off as Gavin Lemmon came into the centre of the Wroxham defence.

With the assistance of the wind, Wroxham were hoping to take more advantage than the home side did in the first half and Jack Garrod almost did so on 55 minutes. A corner from the left was caught by the wind and came close to drifting over ‘keeper Daniel Beeson into the net but Jake Gould was on hand to save him and held it clear. It proved to be a forewarning for the Regent ‘keeper of what was to come later.

Regent came close to breaking the deadlock after 57 minutes. A long ball over the Wroxham defence was chased down by Baker who rounded Pride but he failed to find the target and could only put the ball into the side-netting.

On 63 minutes, Wroxham manager Damian Hilton made his second change of the game replacing Joel Potter with Tom Cullumbine.
Regent were still attacking the Wroxham goal as the wind was holding up their balls forward but their efforts were either tame or Elliot Pride was proving equal to them.

On 69 minutes, the wind could claim an assist for what proved to be the winning goal. A long cross into the Brightlingsea area by Tom Cullumbine was caught by the wind. Beeson was wrong-footed and the ‘keeper could only palm the ball into his own net.

As Wroxham stood firm at all that Regent were throwing at them, Harty made way for King to sit in front of the Wroxham defence and provide a shield. The referee indicated that there would be 5 minutes additional time and the visitors stood firm and managed to see out the victory.

The result sees Wroxham climb two places in the league, 4 points clear of the drop zone. On Saturday, the Yachtsmen make a relatively short journey to AFC Sudbury as they take on the league leaders on their 3G pitch.

Brightlingsea Regent: D. Beeson, N. Joseph, Jake Gould, C. Durling, Josh Gould, M. Cripps, R. Griggs, J. Turner, T. Rymer, K. Baker, P. Kelly. Subs: K. Ayling, R. Lee, J. Phillips, R. Malton, J. Barnett

Wroxham: Elliot Pride, Jackson Ramm, Nick Bailey, Stephen Taylor, Aarron Taylor, Matt Halliday, Jack Garrod, Sam Harty, Nick Davey, David Hinton, Joel Potter. Subs: Tom Cullumbine, Gavin Lemmon, Jordan King, Lewis Sturman, Jamie Forshaw.

Attn: 140

Referee: Matt Foley