The Hawks had started in good spirits and went ahead early through Junior Dadson, before Billy Hunt equalised for the hosts from a set piece with half an hour played.

Hunt then turned provider as he set-up Aaron Condon to put Regent Ahead, and ten minutes into the second half a defensive error was punished as Jake Turner lashed home a free kick to take all three points.

The Hawks started on top and within two minutes had Regent stopper Sam Cowler scrambling across goal. Alex Read laid off for Junior Dadson, but his effort went just wide of the post.

The travelling supporters didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal though, as Reece Dobson flicked the ball on to set Junior Dadson on his way. Dadson rounded the goalkeeper and the last defender to slot home into an empty net and put the Hawks ahead.

Alex Read flicked an effort over the bar with his back to goal as the visitors controlled proceedings early on, and then almost scored mid-way through the half. The striker capitalised on a poor back-pass, but Cowler produced a good save to keep it out. The rebound fell to Fabion Simms, whose shot hit the bar, and the hosts were let off.

Brightlingsea hadn’t seen much of the goal in the opening half an hour, with only a tame shot from Billy Hunt bringing Hawks stopper Ben McNamara into the action. But on 31 minutes a corner found its way through the defence to Hunt in front of goal, and he pounced on the chance to draw level.

The goal rejuvenated the home side, and they almost went ahead when Aaron Condon found Jake Gould inside the box, but the left-back dragged the effort wide.

In the first minute of injury time Brightlingsea took the lead. A Harlow attack resulted in a scramble in the area, but no-one was able to get the ball out from under their feet to get the shot away.

The hosts cleared their lines and on the counter-attack, goal-scorer Billy Hunt sent a delightful cross to the back post for Aaron Condon to volley in first time.

HT: Brightlingsea Regent 2-1 Harlow Town

The Hawks’ first half performance gave hope and they were still in with a shout of taking something from the game, but after 56 minutes disaster struck. Ben McNamara collected a cross and immediately rolled the ball out, but it struck the leg of a Brightlingsea attacker yards away and bounced fortuitously to Billy Hunt who was fouled in the process of shooting. Jake Turner curled the free kick past McNamara, who was promptly substituted in place of Samuel Szymckzyk.

The Hawks had another flurry of action as they looked to get back into the game. Alex Read put an effort wide of the post from the edge of the area, before Syrus Gordon hit one over the bar from 20 yards.

James Baker headed down a corner inside the six yard box, and when Jared Small hit it goalwards on the turn it crashed off the bar and over. The Hawks didn’t take their chances as time was slipping away from them.

In the 89th minute Brightlingsea had the opportunity to rub salt into the wounds. Samuel Szymckzyk came off his line to clear, but the ball fell to Sam Ashford. With the open goal gaping, Ashford hit it from distance but it trickled wide of the post.

The Hawks suffered their seventh away defeat of the season, and with just five points from the last eight matches, dropped into the bottom two.

FT: Brightlingsea Regent 3-1 Harlow Town
ATTENDANCE: 181

Harlow Town now face three tough home fixtures in a row. First up, Leiston visit the McCullochs Arena for a league game on Tuesday 7th November. Kick off is at 7:45pm.