Nine-man Heybridge Swifts battled to a draw with Brightlingsea Regent.

Swifts secured a 1-1 Ryman League division one north result at Scraley Road against visiting Regent on Tuesday night.

Brightlingsea went close on 13 minutes when Jake Turner’s chip over the home defence saw Ben Newson beat the off-side trap but he fired his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Three minutes later Swifts thought they were in front when Reece Morgan released Joe Pearman.

His shot took a deflection that took it past keeper Andy Plummer and into the goal but the flag was up for offside.

But it was Brightlingsea that took the lead just before half-time when Ben Newson scored on 39 minutes.

A through ball from Russell Malton put him one on one with keeper Danny Sambridge and he slipped it past him.

After the break, Malton hit a powerful drive on 50 minutes that took a deflection that sent it just wide.

However, it was Swifts that made the breakthrough when a long free-kick wasn’t dealt with and Aaron Gayle hit the equaliser four minutes later.

Swifts were then reduced to ten men when Jack West received a red card after an altercation with Regent’s Josh Gould after he handled the ball.

It got worse for Swifts as they went down to nine men when Damien Green was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Newson.

But the home side managed to hold on to secure the draw and a point.