Boro failed to pick up their first league points of the season falling to defeat against a dangerous Brightlingsea side who scored a goal in each half to secure the victory.
After Oujdi’s red card last week a reshuffle was required and Boro lined up:
Reuben Rabstein; Ebenezer Addo Kuffour; Tosin Olufemi; Jorge Djassi-Sambu; Dan Carey-Evans; J’Ardell Stirling; Richard Ennin; George Aresti; Derek Asamoah; Demmy Nicolaou; Akiljo Balliu
Subs: Michael Acquah (GK); Alex Nicolaides; Manny Yeboah; Alkeo Bani; Fred Agyemang
Five minutes before kick off the heavens opened and with the crowd huddled into the stand and covered terracing the visitors kicked off and quickly went on the front foot. Reuben was in the action several times early, having to make smart saves, much of the time from Boro being sloppy in possession and giving the ball away in dangerous areas. When Brightlingsea took the lead on 16 minutes they had also had a shot cannon back off the post into Reuben’s grasp. The goal itself though was too easy. Brightlingsea were awarded a free kick on the left. The ball was played in and dropped on the penalty spot where Shabazz-Edwards was on hand to sweep the ball home.
At least that seemed to perk Boro up and it was noticeable they started to get more pressure on the ball, a bit more bite in the tackle, and slowly a bit better possession and territory. As the half wore on Boro created the better chances, and although maybe should have already been further behind, wouldn’t gone into half time wondering how they hadn’t scored.
A wicked cross from Balliu was met by Asamoah, 8 yards out with a thumping header that was just too close to the keeper. Derek gathered the ball from the parry but, with his back to goal couldn’t get a clean second shot away and Brightlingsea scrambled the ball away from the goal line.
Asamoah was close again minutes later, beating the offside trap but only able to tamely flick wide as the keeper came to the edge of his area to narrow the angles. Then it was Sambu’s turn to miss a good chance. Ebz took a second opportunity to cross and the ball fell to Sambu at the far post. Only a scrambling defenders prevented him scoring as his shot looped wide off a deflection.
Despite these chances the visitors still posed a threat with their best effort coming courtesy of another Boro slip. Cutting in from the right, though, the forward could only drag a shot wide of the far post.
After having what looked like a decent penalty shout turned down, Boro had one more good chance before half time, and it fell again to Sambu. Tosin reached a through ball at the same time as the keeper and the ball popped up to Sambu lurking, unmarked near the penalty spot. The ball was at a slightly awkward height, and on his weaker foot, and he couldn’t quite get over the ball and keep his first time effort under the bar.
The second half had barely started before Brightlingsea almost doubled their lead. The sound of a 30 yard shot crashing off a crossbar will always be a delight, and thankfully for Boro this wasn’t followed by any celebrations, the ball thumping down into the 6 yard box for Reuben to gather.
It wasn’t too long before Tom started making changes. After J’Ardell had stabbed a shot wide Yeboah and Agyemang were introduced for Nicolaou and Balliu as Boro looked to get on the front foot more. But the game was getting bitty. Brightlingsea were happy to nullify anything Boro tried, often slightly cynically and took a couple of bookings for a foul and preventing Boro taking a quick free kick.
And the tactics largely worked as Boro couldn’t get any real head of steam up. In fits and starts opportunities were nearly there, with the clearest being a corner that Sambu headed wide of the upright.
Nicolaides and Bani came on for Ennin and Sambu who had both had solid games but the game continued in the fashion it had done since half time.
Brightlingsea’s best chance in this period came from a low cross. It went beyond Rabstein and as attackers ran in J’Ardell was just able to sort his feet out in time to divert the ball which Reuben then dropped on to snuff out the danger.
As the game went into the final 15 minutes Aresti shot wildly over after a pull back found him unmarked 15 yards from goal.
And then came the decisive moment in the game. Rabstein had to make a save but couldn’t prevent the ball going for a corner. The planned corner routine was drilled low, about 10 yards out to the near post, for a Brightlingsea sub to sweep the ball across into the far post, leaving Boro with a mountain to climb for the last 10 minutes.
And it proved too high. A couple of half chances aside, a J’Ardell header tipped over, and a final Ebz shot blocked nothing clear cut emerged and the visitors saw the game out.
Despite last weekend’s victory, it also leaves Boro searching for their first league goal.
Onto Tilbury on Bank Holiday Monday.
Att: 205
