The Blues ran out 3-1 winners against Stanway Rovers in their first away pre-season friendly, a match which Brentwood were able to dominate, despite going a goal down.

The visitors started the game on the front foot with many early chances falling for Louie Johnson and Daniel Ogunleye, but a defensive mixup gave Stanway the lead in the 27th minute. A loose ball was rolling back towards Melvin Minter in the Brentwood net, but after a miscommunication with the trialist, Jamie Bennett snuck in behind and slotted the ball through Minter's legs.

The Blues only took 12 minutes to get back into the game after Marlon Agyakwa delivered a beautiful ball from a free kick which fell to Mekhi McKenzie in the box who managed to get enough contact to send it goalwards.

The hosts had a good chance saved by Minter just before half time, with the Brentwood keeper pushing the ball onto the post and out of play, but the teams went in level at the break.

It didn’t take the Blues long to take the lead after the restart. Johnson slid a beautiful ball across the box, into the path of Ade Cole who calmly slotted into the bottom right corner just 4 minutes after the restart.

There was a penalty appeal for Town after Johnson was pulled down in the box, and an offside goal for Rovers, but it was Brentwood with the next breakthrough to make it 3-1. Cole won the ball back high up the pitch and played in Charlee Hughes, who expertly finessed it into the top right corner, to give the Blues a comfortable lead.

There were a couple of late chances for Town but overall the game ended comfortably for the visitors- a strong away win in their 5th pre-season game.

By Matthew Trevelyan