brentwoodtownfc.co.uk

EASTERN JUNIOR ALLIANCE LEAGUE CUP (Under 15s)
BUCKHURST HILL 2 BRENTWOOD TOWN (Suffolk) 1
A goal in the last minute of the game ended Brentwood Town U15s involvement in the League Challenge Cup at the weekend. The Suffolk division side’s, much delayed match away to Buckhurst Hill, finally got underway in the unlikely surroundings of south-east London. With so many pitches across Essex and East London unplayable or unavailable, and with both sides facing growing fixture congestion, the all-weather training pitch at Charlton Athletic FC provided the only realistic prospect of getting the game, originally scheduled for December, played before we entered March.
After such an extensive delay, it was perhaps inevitable that the game itself would be a little disappointing. Whilst not exactly a washout, neither side  managed to produce the football that had been anticipated and Brentwood in particular, with a few notable exceptions, turned in a below par performance.
On a day when, against one of the top sides in Essex and beyond, Town needed to be at their very best, they failed to produce the patient, clever and pacy build-up play that has characterised their season thus far. 
Hill’s victory was no more than they deserved. Their decisive, direct play interlaced with some very good football should have won the game long before the dramatic last moments. It was good goalkeeping from Town’s keeper and poor finishing by the Chigwell-based ‘home’ side that kept Brentwood in the game for so long.
Brentwood started reasonably well, and grabbed the lead courtesy of a super edge-of-the-box strike from Henry Russell.  Hill equalised, with a spectacular volley from their substitute and the teams entered the break at level pegging.
Both sides looked to pick up the pace after the interval, but neither side were able to break the deadlock. The playing surface did not appear to lend itself particularly well to Town’s usual playing style and Hill seemed to adapt to the conditions far more readily and to greater effect.  
The winning goal was coming, and although extra time would have given Brentwood a further opportunity to turn things around, it was a fair and just reward for Hill’s endeavours that they were able to exploit Town’s failure to clear a corner, and score from close quarters.
Town must now redouble their efforts in the league. They visit Cambridge University Press next week and face fellow title challengers Cornard and league leaders Ransomes before the end of the month.
Brentwood Town: Thackeray, Newman, Hunt(Capt), Smith,Witherspoon, Russell, Cassettari, Brooking, Robson, Bardouleau, Bagnall. Stittle, Hawkes, Bogard, Harris, O’Mahoney, Collins