WARE 5 BRENTWOOD 5

(RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH)

DAN Subuola scored an 87th-minute equaliser to complete an impressive hat-trick and ensure Brentwood left Wodson Park with something to show from this thrilling encounter.

The incident-filled match saw ten goals, five equalisers, a hat-trick, a red card, a penalty and a manager sent to the stands.

Town manager Les Whitton made two changes to the side that were knocked out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, Dan Subuola and debutant Nick Barrett came in in place of Nigel Seidu and Aaron Harriot.

The team got off to a good start when Petrit Elbi put Brentwood ahead after two minutes with a tap-in at the back post, rounding off a neat passing move with John Bradley and new-boy Barrett.

But Ware didn’t take long to get back on level terms. Ex-Blues winger Sam Bantick won a corner on the right and it was from the set piece that the unmarked Joe Reynolds scored from the edge of the box.

The hosts had a couple of chances before taking the lead, again from a corner, with Tony Martin heading in from six yards.

Brentwood equalised less than three minutes later with an almost identical goal to the first. Elbi turned provider, linking well with Sipho Mtyanda who squared the ball to Dan Subuola to make it 2-2.

And Brentwood made their momentum count, taking the lead once again.

Elbi and ex-Blues keeper Rhys Madden chased the ball in the box only for Madden to fall under pressure from the frontman.

Elbi gathered the ball and set it back to Subuola who fought off two defenders before producing a calm finish to put Brentwood ahead, in the 40th minute.

Ware manager Nick Ironton was enraged having not been awarded a free-kick from Elbi’s challenge on Madden, but the referee had none of it and sent Ironton to the stands.

Ironton made three changes early in the second half and they paid off immediately.

Tony Martin’s precise pass put substitute Elliot King through on goal and his low angled strike found the left corner to make it 3-3.

Whitton looked to settle the defence and brought on midweek signing Christian Mbulu in place of Gbenga Sonuga, but it was a debut he’ll want to forget in a hurry.

Mbulu was caught on the wrong side of King and tugged him back in the box to concede a penalty three minutes after coming on. The defender was sent off and Aaron Cato scored from the spot to put Ware 4-3 up.

Despite being a man down Brentwood continued to fight and deservedly equalised when James Love’s lofted free kick wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell invitingly to Elbi.

But the Blues still looked shaky at the back and seemed to have thrown away the point when Reynolds set up substitute George Ironton who beat Pitman at his near post with a first time shot, six minutes from time.

Fans at Wodson Park thought they had seen it all, but ten-man Brentwood pegged Ware back for the final time. After some excellent quick passing Elbi timed his through ball to perfection, putting Subuola through on goal and the striker produced a superb finish to beat Madden and complete his hat-trick to make it 5-5, with three minutes to go.

Brentwood: Pitman, Dobbs, Sonuga (Mbulu 63), Stokes, Dixon, Mtyanda, Bradley, Love, Barrett (Spurge 77), Subuola, Elbi.