The Blues fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Ramsgate on Valentine’s Day.
Goals either side of the interval from Alfie Paxman (penalty) and Solomon Ogunwomoju handed the hosts a swift two-goal advantage, before Mitchell May added a third in stoppage time to seal the points.
Both sides began brightly, with the first opportunity arriving inside five minutes. New signing Malachi Napa tested Aiden Prall from the edge of the area, the Brentwood stopper reacting well to push the effort away. Prall, currently on loan from Ramsgate, was given permission to feature against his parent club.
The Blues responded almost immediately. Max Hudson registered Brentwood’s first effort on target, albeit a comfortable one for Dillon Addai. The Rams keeper quickly launched a counter-attack which led to captain Paxman racing through one-on-one, only to guide his finish wide of the post.
It was an end-to-end opening, and on 11 minutes Brentwood carved out a promising move. Ethan Kaiser’s long delivery was flicked on by Danny Ogunleye into the path of Kymani Thomas, who drove into the box. With Scott Kashket available to his right, Thomas opted to shoot, but Addai got down well to deny him.
The tempo settled midway through the half, though Prall was called into action again just before the half-hour mark, saving smartly from Harry Webster’s volley.
Moments later, Brentwood came close from a corner. Thomas’ delivery was punched clear by Addai, only as far as Kashket, whose return ball into the area evaded everyone and clipped the top of the crossbar before bouncing to safety.
Ramsgate continued to threaten as the half progressed. On 30 minutes, Webster picked out Billy Munday in the area, but the midfielder’s header drifted narrowly wide.
Former Blue Solomon Ogunwomoju, signed from Redbridge in December, began to influence proceedings alongside strike partner Kewku Lucan. With six minutes remaining before the break, Lucan skipped past Kaiser inside the box, but Matt Cripps produced a crucial interception to prevent the ball reaching Ogunwomoju.
Napa was involved again shortly after as Lucan’s through ball nearly released him, before he went to ground under pressure from Prall and Andy Freeman. Appeals for a penalty were dismissed by referee Simon Finnigan.
Despite Ramsgate’s late pressure, it was Brentwood who arguably fashioned the best chance of the half in the 43rd minute. Breaking quickly through Thomas, the winger picked out Louie Johnson, who took a composed first touch before striking against the post, the ball rebounding away from danger.
However, the hosts would have the final say before the interval. A free-kick from halfway, awarded after Kaiser was penalised for a challenge on Lucan, led to sustained pressure in the Brentwood area. After a series of deliveries, Paxman’s cross was only partially cleared. Munday reacted quickest and was caught from behind by Hudson as he attempted to regain possession, giving the referee little hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Deep into added time, Paxman stepped up. Having previously converted once from the spot in the reverse fixture, he made no mistake here, calmly dispatching his effort into the bottom-left corner to send Ramsgate into the break ahead.
Following the restart, Brentwood won a free-kick within seconds, but Hudson’s delivery was dealt with comfortably. Ramsgate broke swiftly in response, flooding forward in numbers. The ball eventually reached Paxman inside the area, and his cross took a deflection off Freeman, looping over Prall and dropping kindly for Ogunwomoju to nod home from close range.
It was a hammer blow for the Blues — two goals in quick succession handing the hosts a commanding 2-0 advantage.
To their credit, Brentwood responded positively. Ogunleye was brought down by Ian Gayle in a dangerous area, presenting Louie Johnson with another opportunity from a set-piece after last weekend’s success against Cray Valley (PM). His curling effort drifted narrowly wide, with Addai scrambling across his goal.
The visitors were nearly caught out again moments later following a loose pass from Kashket in his own half. Ogunwomoju pounced and squared low for Napa, who could only prod wide under pressure.
As the half wore on, Ramsgate appeared content to sit deeper and protect their lead, allowing Brentwood more possession. The Blues found promising areas, but — as Keith Rowland later reflected — the decisive touch in the final third proved elusive.
Rowland looked to his bench, introducing Aaron Sterling and Ade Cole in place of Kashket and Hudson to inject fresh impetus.
Thomas, a constant outlet throughout, fired over from distance with 25 minutes remaining, before substitute Sterling cut inside onto his left foot soon after, drawing a comfortable save from Addai.
Brentwood continued to push. Thomas again tested the Rams keeper with a powerful strike from 20 yards that was tipped over the bar as the pressure mounted.
Ramsgate’s first meaningful opportunity after their second goal arrived on 82 minutes when Paxman curled a free-kick just wide following a foul on substitute Benedict Bioletti — another reminder of his quality from set-pieces.
As the contest drifted towards its conclusion, chances opened up at both ends. Greg Cundle forced a solid save from Prall, while Ebuzoeme fired wide.
Sterling remained lively in added time, driving at the defence and unleashing a long-range effort that Addai did well to palm away, underlining why he claimed January’s Golden Glove award.
But there was still time for one final twist. A long clearance forward looked routine enough, yet a loose back-pass allowed substitute Mitchell May to capitalise. He raced through, rounded Prall and slotted into an empty net to add further gloss to the scoreline.
Moments later, the referee brought proceedings to a close.
Brentwood remain third in the table, though both Chatham Town and Billericay Town continue to apply pressure. Ramsgate climb to eighth, strengthening their own play-off ambitions.
RAMSGATE: Addai (GK), Brown, Gayle, Clifford, Webster (Cundle 83′), Munday, Ebuzoeme, Napa (Nash 77′), Paxman (C), Lucan (May 60′), Ogunwomoju (Bioletti 68′)
Subs not used: Buckingham
BRENTWOOD TOWN: Prall (GK), Reid, Cripps (C), Kaiser, Hudson (Cole 57′), Freeman, Machado (Vaivada 74′), Johnson (Edwards 83′), Kashket (Sterling 57′), Thomas, Ogunleye
Subs not used: Brooke
