Brentwood Town made it three wins on the bounce as the Blues secured their fifth victory from the last six matches, tightening their grip on a play-off position.
A brace from Bradley Sach – including his fourth goal in just three games since signing for the Blues – proved enough to secure the win, despite a stunning strike from Lewes’ Devonte West.
Brentwood came into the game knowing three points were essential to keep two hands firmly on third spot in the table. Meanwhile, Lewes travelled to Essex in dreadful form, having picked up just one point from their last six matches and sitting rock bottom of the form guide.
The Blues were dominant in the opening exchanges and produced a flurry of chances. An initial cross from Kymani Thomas was blocked by the Lewes backline before the winger curled a trademark effort just wide of the post.
Thomas, a player in excellent form in recent months, continued to trouble the Lewes defence when his cross picked out Alejandro Machado on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard’s fizzing strike flew agonisingly over the bar.
Brentwood kept knocking on the door. Thomas was involved once again as he attempted to catch out Rooks goalkeeper Louis Rogers with a dipping effort that drifted just over and landed on the roof of the net.
Despite Brentwood’s constant pressure, it was the visitors who registered the game’s first shot on target after half an hour. Alex Kpakpe’s dangerous cross into the Blues’ box was just too far ahead of striker Danny Bassett, but he recovered the ball and laid it off for Bobby Unwin, whose powerful effort was parried away by Aiden Prall.
The chance served as a wake-up call for Brentwood and, just two minutes later, the Blues were ahead through Bradley Sach. A well-worked team move saw Matt Cripps feed Aaron Sterling on the right flank. The winger showed the burst of pace Brentwood supporters have become accustomed to before firing a low cross into the area, where Sach hammered a first-time finish off the crossbar and into the net – his third goal in as many games for his new side.
However, the lead did not last long. With five minutes remaining before the break, a scrappy passage of play in midfield allowed Devonte West to unleash a first-time strike from 25 yards that rocketed into the top-right corner, leaving Prall with no chance.
There was still time for one more Brentwood opportunity before the interval. After more impressive play from Sterling down the right, the on-loan Leyton Orient youngster picked out Sach in the box. Sach then delivered a delicate floating cross for the onrushing Machado, who stretched to connect but saw his effort crash against the post, with the rebound falling gratefully into the hands of Rogers.
Brentwood continued to dominate after the restart as they looked to restore their lead, and just three minutes into the second half Rogers was forced into a superb double save to deny Sterling and then Machado from close range, before the visitors were able to clear their lines.
Lewes then had penalty appeals for handball against Cripps waved away by referee Toby Carlisle. Replays showed Ethan Kaiser’s clearance had actually struck the Blues captain on the chest, and a penalty would have been a harsh decision.
Sach, who has found the golden touch since signing from Welling United, came close again a few minutes later. Wyan Reid’s floated free-kick was inch-perfect and met by Sach, whose powerful header flew just over the bar.
In truth, Lewes’ biggest threat throughout the second half remained West, who had already scored in the first period and also netted against the Blues in the reverse fixture at The Dripping Pan. The tricky winger came reasonably close on two occasions, with curling efforts flying over both times without troubling Prall.
Thomas then saw an effort fizz narrowly wide after a quiet opening ten minutes to the half, before Keith Rowland turned to his bench in search of fresh legs.
Lewes’ resistance was finally broken with just under 20 minutes of normal time remaining. A lapse in concentration from Rooks captain Tyler Christian-Law allowed Sterling to dispossess the midfielder and drive into the penalty area. As the winger prepared to shoot, Christian-Law hauled him down, leaving referee Carlisle with little option but to award a penalty.
After a brief delay while Rogers received treatment – along with a few attempts at mind games from the Lewes goalkeeper – Sach stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home, sending Rogers the wrong way to restore Brentwood’s lead and score his fourth goal for the club.
With further fresh legs introduced, Brentwood began to carve open the Lewes defence almost at will as they looked to put the game beyond doubt. Substitutes Cole and Vaivada linked up well, with the latter played through in the box, only to see his delicate dink over Rogers come off the post and wide.
Moments later the Blues were through again as Vaivada teed up fellow substitute Charlee Hughes in the area, but the striker could not sort his feet out in time before Lewes cleared.
Four minutes later Brentwood found space in the box once more. Vaivada was again involved, setting up another substitute, Jesse Olukolu, but the winger could only drag his effort wide. With the game approaching seven minutes of added time, the Blues were hoping those missed chances would not come back to haunt them.
Despite the amount of stoppage time, Lewes rarely threatened. Bassett came closest in the third minute of added time, but his tame effort was comfortably gathered by Prall.
There was still time for one final Brentwood attempt to seal the victory, with Cole trying his luck from long range, only to see his strike well saved by Rogers.
Soon after, Carlisle blew the final whistle to bring the game to an end. The victory was an important one for Brentwood, particularly with all the sides around them in the play-off places also picking up wins, meaning it remains as you were heading into the next round of fixtures.
Lewes, meanwhile, will be hoping to find some form soon. They should have enough to avoid the drop, but with both Wingate & Finchley and Carshalton Athletic recording victories on Saturday, the situation is far from straightforward for Craig Nelson’s side.
Brentwood Town return to action next Saturday with a trip to Parkside to face Hashtag United. Further details will be published in due course.
BRENTWOOD TOWN: Prall (GK), Reid, Cripps (C), Kaiser, Hudson, Edwards, Machado (Cole 78′), Johnson, Sterling (Olukolu 76′), Thomas (Vaivada 62′), Sach (Hughes 81′)
Sub not used: Freeman
LEWES: Rogers (GK), Bernal, Watson (Hamstead 19′), Burchell, Kpakpe (Roberts 64′), Christian-Law (C) (Janneh 77′), Muirhead, Booth (Walker 77′), Unwin (Nunn 87′), West, Bassett
Subs not used: N/A
Words by Michaela Georgopolous & Chris Berry
