BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent suffered a 1-0 defeat against Leiston tonight, in their first Bostik League premier division match at the Taydal Stadium.

The R’s, last season’s division north champions, had begun their step three adventure with an encouraging 1-1 draw at Tooting and Mitcham on Saturday.

However, they suffered their first defeat of the new campaign after conceding a freak 27th-minute winner from Kyle Hammond.

The full-back delivered a free-kick from the left which somehow evaded everyone and nestled inside the far corner.

Regent started with Sam Cowler in goal, behind a back four of Ricky Griggs, skipper Matt Cripps, Josh Gould and Pip Boyland.

Wide men Phil Kelly and Aaron Condon flanked midfield trio Connor Witherspoon, George Doyle and Connor Hogan, with striker Tom Richardson leading the R’s attack.

It was the hosts who went closest during the early exchanges as Hogan’s rising, long-range effort was tipped over by keeper Marcus Garnham.

From the ensuing corner, Gould’s overhead kick flashed narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

Leiston soon got into their stride and Cripps had to make a perfectly-timed block tackle to deny the prolific Matthew Blake.

The visitors then had a headed goal disallowed for a push before Cowler was forced to make an excellent save from Christy Finch, after the striker jinked his way into the Regent box.

A goal appeared on the cards and it duly arrived just before the half-hour mark.

However, it was one the hosts will have been bitterly disappointed with as Hammond’s free-kick drifted inside the far corner, deceiving Cowler.

The Regent keeper then dived to his left to keep out a low effort from Byron Lawrence as the first half finished 0-0.

Condon fired into the side-netting early in the second period but it was the visitors who went closest to scoring when Cowler was called on to make another great save, this time blocking a powerful low effort from Lawrence.

Full-back Griggs then shovelled a close-range effort off the line and there was one more opportunity for Leiston as Cowler had to rush out and block a close-range effort from Finch.

Regent: Cowler, Griggs, Cripps, Josh Gould, Boyland (Jake Gould 40), Kelly, Witherspoon, Hogan, Doyle, Condon (Hunt 70), Richardson.

Unused subs: Fox, Love and Coyle.

Attendance: 285.