Walthamstow v Brightlingsea Regent preview

Walthamstow welcome Brightlingsea Regent to Wadham Lodge this weekend in the Isthmian League.

Stow were due to make the long trip to Lowestoft Town on Tuesday, however that was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Their last game was a 3-2 victory over local rivals Redbridge on Saturday. Malachi Napa and Pedro Carvalho gave the hosts a two-goal advantage, before Brian Garzon, Keano Robinson and Charlie Heatley helped complete the comeback that was well deserved of three points.

Brightlingsea haven’t played since the 3rd February, when they hosted Stanway Rovers who picked up all three points in a 1-0 win. Alife Cutbush’s goal in the 40th minute was enough to seal the win for the visitors.

Stow and Regent have already faced each other this season, with Regent prevailing in a 3-0 win in October. Shane Temple and Dan Rowe made it 2-0 in quick succession in the first half and Jake Clowsley made it three in the 53rd minute and rounded off a poor Stow performance.

Previous meetings

Walthamstow and Regent’s common people

Former Stow front man Suley Zudhu had a spell at Brightlingsea, where he impressed so much in his first few games – scoring five in five – that he signed a contract with the club. He ended up with 12 goals in ten games, but couldn’t save Regent from relegation, and he left in the summer of 2023.

Last season, winger Bobby Rea spent the pre-season with Walthamstow but departed before the season proper started. Evangelos (Evans) Empochontsif finished the 2022-23 season at Walthamstow and was part of Nicky Ironton’s side which made it to the Southern League Central play-offs. Both were on the bench for Regent at the end of last season and have since moved on.

Goalkeeper Lewis Greene, who spent the first half of last season with Walthamstow returned to Brightlingsea and played against us in Brightlingsea’s 2-0 win. He since moved to Canvey Island but has fallen out of favour after going winless in each of their first nine league games.

Josh Riza made a couple of appearances from the bench for Stow earlier this season and moved to Brightlingsea in September. He has since moved to Heybridge Swifts in January.

Former winger Tyrone Baker also spent time at Brightlingsea, during the last part of the 2023/2024 season.

Other players include Essex Senior League winning captain Adalberto Pinto, Eman Okunja, Ollie Sotoyinbo, Toch Singh, Lamar Johnson, Dan Brock and Harrison Carnegie.