Brentwood Town returned to winning ways in the league last night with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Dartford. A George Whitefield own-goal alongside goals from Alfie Cerulli and Freddie Sears secured all three points.
The Darts were awarded a penalty just minutes after the starting whistle as Dan Smith was brought down following a challenge by Ryan Henshaw. Smith stepped up to the spot as he looked to continue The Darts’ tendency of scoring early against The Blues, but his effort towards the right of goal was denied by the diving save of Jack Giddens.
An instant response was produced from the consecutive free-kick as Giddens played a long ball through to Cerulli, whose well-weighted cross into the area was helped into his own net by Whitefield with Andy Freeman lurking at the back post.
A flurry of attacking chances followed for The Blues as they continued to assert pressure on the visitors backline. Suley Zuhdu picked out the run of Nat Mardell but his effort was fizzed wide of the near post, before Cerulli made his way round Ryan Sandford and knocked his strike wide from a tight angle. Luke Read also came close just after the half-hour mark as he was teed up on the edge of the area by Cerulli, but his strike was dragged wide.
The visitors did create a half-chance through Ben Greenhalgh whose effort from distance was curled wide of the left post with 7 minutes remaining of the first-half.
Brentwood Town had a penalty appeal for handball waved away by the referee just before the break, after the shot of Zuhdu appeared to be blocked by the arm of Whitefield.
Brentwood emerged into the second-half in an identical manner that they had ended the first. Andy Freeman tried a strike from distance, but Sandford was on hand to collect.
Another long free-kick by Giddens was flicked down the pitch by Zuhdu and into the path of substitute Malachi Linton, with his shot clipped against the outside of the near post. Linton then came close once again shortly afterwards as his shot was parried away by Sandford.
The Blues maintained attacking pressure and continued to push for a second goal. The Darts gifted possession to the Blues in a dangerous area, and following a scramble in the box, the ball fell kindly to Cerulli who poked an effort from close range over the line to double the lead.
Substitute Jayden Robinson produced an inviting, deep free-kick which was met by an unmarked Henshaw at the back post, but his effort was eventually cleared.
Dartford looked to reduce the deficit with their in-swinging corner causing trouble, which lead to Wyan Reid clearing off the line, before the follow up cross from Greenhalgh was headed against the crossbar by Vladimir Paternoster.
Sears was introduced late on and caused spells of trouble for the visitors to contend with. He was played through on goal from a counterattack which saw his effort parried away by Sandford before sealing the third. Charlie Edwards teed up Sears nicely just inside the box as the experienced striker swivelled on the turn and nestled his effort into the bottom corner to secure his first personal home goal at The Arena.
The Blues return to league action on Tuesday where they welcome Cheshunt to The Arena.
BRENTWOOD TOWN: Giddens (GK), Davis, Henshaw, Gibbs (C), Reid, Read, Edwards, Freeman (Robinson 59’), Cerulli (Cripps 75’), Mardell (Linton 59’), Zuhdu (Sears 82’)
Unused subs: Prall
DARTFORD: Sandford (GK), Oke, Odaudu (C), Whitefield (Paternostor 62’), Smith, Greenhalgh, Higgs, MacArthur (Fiddes 62’), Ibe (Atkins 76’), Orji, Pinder
Unused subs: Wagstaff, Davey
Report by Michaela Georgopolous
