Saturday 27th February
RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH
CONCORD RANGERS 2 BRENTWOOD TOWN 0
After three successive wins, the visit to high fliers Concord Rangers was always going to be a real test for both the Blues players and management team. Brentwood brought in three new signings - Richard Ketchell returned to the club following spells at Dartford and Aveley and lined up at centre back; Ben Boyce started up front and goalkeeper Greg Bowen occupied a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Right from the kick off, Brentwood were penned in their own half and within a few minutes of the start Concord hit the post.
The nearest Blues got to putting the Concord defence under any sort of stress was a long shot from Jason Mason.
As the game progressed, the work ethic from Concord in shutting down Brentwood’s forward play became evident, although the middle was being led by Blues' Ross Parmenter, who was winning the battle with Concord's Paul Shave.
The referee made one or two odd decisions which fell in Brentwood's favour resulting in free kicks on the edge of the Blues penalty area when a penalty might have been awarded. Boyce looked busy controlling balls with his chest and then running at the Concord defence.
However, the game turned on a set piece against Brentwood in the 36th minute. The ball was crossed into the Blues penalty area and cleared to outside the penalty box, but the ball came back via an overhead scissor kick and the tall Paul Shave rose higher than any body to glide the ball into the top corner and give the home side a deserved lead.
This spurred Concord to apply more pressure and at times the Blues' defence were making last gasp, big toe tackles to clear their lines. The Brentwood defence, led by captain Reiss Noel continued under pressure with the Blues midfield were now being over run. In all Brentwood in the first half were second best.
The second half started in much of the same vein as the first. Within three minutes of the restart, Brentwood went further behind to a strike by Lyle Taylor from outside the box when Blues could have cleared the danger earlier.
The home side continued looking for a third but were denied by resolute defensive covering with 'keeper Nicky Pyne making a superb one-on-one save against Concord's Dave Collins.
Brentwood’s chances of getting back into the game were enhanced when Concord's Collins was dismissed for throwing an arm out in an off the ball incident. With all three Concords substitutions made and down to ten men, Blues at last began to play in an unstifled fashion, combining good one-twos and give-and-goes to finally get behind a very strong defence.
At the end of the game, many positives in both individual and team play were noted against one of the stronger Clubs in the division.
Brentwood Town: Pyne, Love, Ebsworth, Noel, Ketchell (Fletcher 85), Parmenter, Okojie, Mason, Lee, Boyce (Wixon 80), Stevens (Priest 70) Subs not used Bowen, Pennant
