Harrow dropped to seventh in the Bostik Premier League after a disappointing defeat to Brightlingsea Regent at Earlsmead.

A new manager for the visitors aided their cause, but the Boro were below-par and deserved perhaps even less than the 2-1 socreline.

The visitors were very much on top from the off with the wind behind them, and although Reis Stanislaus headed Kurtis Cumberbatch's cross wide the opener from Tom Richardson after 17 minutes was deserved, as he nodded a free-kick beyond Melvin Minter.

He came close to a second twice before the break, with Arinse Uade twice guilty of gifting the visitors a chance, but five minutes after the interval - even with the wind now favouring Harrow - they were two behind.

Richardson was the man to profit again, as Minter diverted a shot into his path when he could have palmed it behind and he was in no danger of pasing up the opportunity.

The Brightlingsea striker continued to be busy as he closed in on a hat-trick - but he would not get the chance to do so after he was dismissed from the field for a second yellow after leaving an arm in on Shaun Preddie.

Curtis Ujah took advantage to halve the deficit with half an hour to go, and the hosts did finally have a good go of it with an equaliser within their sights.

Stanislaus passed up their best opportunity, nodding against the underside of the bar from Michael Bryan's cross, but it would have been harsh on a Brightlingsea side who deserved their victory.