BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent are today celebrating promotion to the Premier Division of the Thurlow Nunn League.

A 2-0 win at Braintree Town Reserves last night assured Brightlingsea of a top-three finish in Division One.

Fourth-placed Saffron Walden, who have four games to play, can only reach a maximum of 67 points - one less than the number accrued by third-placed Brightlingsea following last night’s win.

James Webster’s side have not lost in the league since a 2-1 defeat at home to March Town United on September 29. They have since gone 22 matches unbeaten.

The North Road side this season also reached the Third Round Proper of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history, before bowing out 3-2 to Brantham Athletic.

The club only re-joined the league last season, following promotion from the Kent Blaxill Border League, after forming following a merger of Brightlingsea United and Regent Park Rangers in 2005.

Brightlingsea United joined Division One of the Eastern Counties (Thurlow Nunn) League in 1990, but resigned from the league shortly before the start of the 2002–03 season after the manager and most of the players left.

Leaders Newmarket Town, who have already clinched promotion, lost 3-2 at Whitton United last night.

They still lead the table by one point from Cambridge University Press, who have already confirmed they will be leaving the league at the end of the season, with Brightlingsea Regent just one point further behind.

CUP’s withdrawal means that only two sides will be promoted this season, with the race for the title now wide open.