Brightlingsea Regent got life under new manager Tom Rothery under way in perfect style with a Bostik League premier division win on the road.

Rothery had only been formally appointed as the R’s boss the day before their trip to Harrow Borough, but his players gave him a three-point welcome present with a 2-1 victory.

Jake Gould put Brightlingsea on the front foot when he touched on an 18th minute Aaron Condon free-kick into the goal and it was a lead that Rothery’s men held on to until half-time.

They doubled that seven minutes after the break, when Tom Richardson tucked the ball, but the game turned sour for the R’s man eight minutes later.

Having scored Regent’s second goal, Richardson was sent off for a second booking and Harrow Borough turned the screw as Curtis Ujah pulled a goal back for them within a minute.

However, with their backs to the wall, Regent defended well and although the hosts hit the bar late on, Brightlingsea held on for the three points.

In division one, both WITHAM TOWN and MALDON & TIPTREE were held to 1-1 draws.

Witham headed to Potters Barr looking to end an eight-game winless run, but they suffered an early blow as Michael Murray put the hosts ahead in the second minute.

Tyler Corlett restored parity for Witham in the 35th minute but they were unable to force a winner as their wait for a win went on and the game ended with youngster Liam Whipps being sent off in the 90th minute.

Maldon were also held to a draw as they entertained Ware.

After a goalless first-half, it was the visitors who drew first blood as Yannick Kamanan scored in the 52nd minute, but Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was on target for the Jammers four minutes later to secure a point.

Elsewhere, HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS’ excellent run continued with a fourth away win of the campaign.

Kreshnic Krasniqi’s second minute thunderbolt volley gave Swifts the ideal start and Jack Cawley added a second in the 65th minute as Heybridge wrapped up a sixth win in a row in all competitions.