Brightlingsea Regent 0, Grays Athletic 1

A GOAL ten minutes from time from Sam Bantick gave Grays a morale-boosting Isthmian North win against struggling Regent on Tuesday (7 October) night.

It came on an evening when the home side might think themselves unfortunate after they pressed Grays hard through the match – but they made their own task harder when captain Charlie Durling was sent off with 21 minutes to go, with Grays then capitalising on their one man advantage.

Regent settled the quicker but it was Grays who had the first real chance, being denied by a great save from goalkeeper Luke Avenell.

After that Grays found themselves on the back foot with Harry McDonald testing Grays keeper George Marsh on 19 minutes and several other chances went begging around Marsh's six yard box before the sides went in goalless at the break.

The hosts continued to press after the interval, with Fin Adams creating a great chance on 63 minutes to find Shane Temple, who knocked it into the path of Callum Harrison — but his effort whistled just wide of the far post.

Then came the pivotal 69^th minute moment minutes when Durling was shown a straight red card for a high tackle.

Just ten minutes later Grays broke the deadlock when Bantick turned sharply on the edge of the box and curled a fine strike into the top corner.

Regent refused to give in, with Matty Tricker heading across goal to Temple late on, only for the forward's header to be smothered by Marsh.

Regent had one more late chance when a shot from sub Callum Harrison but flashed narrowly wide in added time but Grays were not to be denied the victory.

Blues are back in action on Saturday with a trip to Stanway Rovers, who sit just a place above them in 13th position.