Brentwood Town claimed their first win of 2026 with a resolute and disciplined performance away at play-off rivals Chatham Town.
The Blues came into the contest on the back of four straight defeats and up against a Chats side level on points with them in the league table, although the hosts themselves were also looking to respond after consecutive 1-0 home losses.
It was a quiet opening to proceedings, with the first opportunity falling to Chatham after 13 minutes. Matt Macarthur picked out Junior Dixon unmarked inside the box, but the striker could only volley his effort well over the bar, failing to trouble Aiden Prall.
Chatham registered the game’s first effort on target shortly afterwards as Kofi Anokye-Boadi tried his luck from distance, though his low strike was comfortable enough for Prall to gather.
Brentwood’s main threat in the first half came from set-pieces. Max Hudson’s corner deliveries caused problems for the Chatham backline, but the visitors were unable to convert that pressure into a breakthrough.
The hosts created a couple more chances before the interval. Dixon was again involved, firing into the side netting from Kasim Aidoo’s searching cross towards the back post, before Prall was called into action once more to deal comfortably with Sam Sene-Richardson’s low effort from the edge of the area.
Both sides started brightly after the restart, with Chatham fashioning the first opening of the second half through Adam Leathers, who cut inside onto his left foot and drilled a shot narrowly wide of the post.
It was Brentwood, however, who broke the deadlock four minutes into the half. Dixon’s loose pass was intercepted by Andy Freeman, who laid the ball off to Wyan Reid. Reid combined neatly with Scott Kashket in a quick one-two before releasing the full-back down the right flank. Kashket took his time before picking out the onrushing Louie Johnson, who drove into the box and fired a first-time finish into the bottom right-hand corner of Nathan Harvey’s net.
From there, Brentwood looked to put the game to bed, with Danny Ogunleye going close on two occasions. The first came after Freeman dispossessed Anokye-Boadi in his own half, creating space for Ogunleye to shoot from distance, though his effort drifted just over the bar.
The second followed another swift counter-attack, as the Blues broke from a Chatham corner through Kymani Thomas. The winger carried the ball from deep inside his own half into the penalty area before delivering an inviting cross for Ogunleye, who could only poke wide under pressure from Harvey.
As the game wore on, Chatham began to apply sustained pressure in search of an equaliser. Ollie Evans went close with 25 minutes remaining, heading wide from Aidoo’s cross despite finding himself unmarked inside the box.
The hosts then saw a series of penalty appeals waved away by referee Nicholas Dunn. An Aidoo corner was met by captain Reece Butler, with the ball appearing to strike Johnson in the chest before being cleared by the Brentwood defence.
Further controversy followed moments later. With Brentwood prepared to make a substitution, play was allowed to continue from a Chatham throw-in. Dixon’s low cross from the right was parried by Prall, prompting further appeals for handball against Freeman, again dismissed by the referee. Evans’ follow-up was saved by Prall, who then produced an outstanding second stop to deny substitute Kian Garlinge at point-blank range.
Chatham continued to press, with Prall again to the fore as he pushed away a fierce long-range effort from Jordy Robins, before substitute Tope Fadahunsi skewed the rebound wide.
As the game entered its closing stages, Brentwood remained composed, introducing Aron Pollock for his first appearance in almost two months to help see the contest out.
There was still time for one final scare for the hosts. Alex Giles’ initial effort was well blocked by skipper Matt Cripps, sending the ball looping into the air inside the box. Amid the ensuing scramble, the ball fell kindly for Sene-Richardson from five yards out, but his first-time strike was superbly saved by Prall, with Pollock positioned behind to provide cover.
After seven minutes of added time, referee Dunn finally brought proceedings to a close, ending Brentwood’s losing run and lifting the Blues up to third in the table, leapfrogging Chatham in the process.
Brentwood Town are back in action this Saturday as they welcome Cray Valley (PM) to The Arena. Tickets are available on Fanbase!
CHATHAM TOWN: Harvey (GK), Evans, Giles, Butler (C), Aidoo (Olugbodi 77′), Robins, Leathers (Ranger 74′), Sene-Richardson, Anokye-Boadi (Fadahunsi 60′), Macarthur (Garlinge 67′), Dixon
Subs not used: Cooper
BRENTWOOD TOWN: Prall (GK), Reid, Cripps (C), Kaiser, Hudson, Freeman, Machado (Cole 56′), Johnson (Brooke 79′), Kashket (Hughes 74′), Thomas (Pollock 82′), Ogunleye
Subs not used: Vaivada
Words by Chris Berry
