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Two pitch inspections needed

10:27am Friday 20th February 2009


BRENTWOOD TOWN 2 WARE 0 The ground staff overcame snow, ice and surface water to get this game on, and Brentwood were rewarded with three valuable points.

It took two pitch inspections on Saturday morning before the game finally got the go ahead shortly after 1pm. The pitch was certainly playable by then but, inevitably, the surface did deteriorate, leaving more work to get it ready for the next home game. Brentwood had won 3-1 at Ware in October, one of their best performances of the season, but the Hertfordshire club, who were pre season favourites for promotion, has since undergone a change of management and players. Their results since then have been somewhat mixed but they were still in fourth position in the Ryman North table, just one place behind Brentwood.

Brentwood were without Mitch Hahn and Steve Wareham so Riki Holmes was pushed forward from his usual midfield position to partner Sherwin Stanley in attack.

Lee Perry was a constant threat to the Ware defence in the early stages and he forced a good save from Ronnie Worster in the sixth minute as the visitors found themselves under some pressure.

Perry shot over the bar after Holmes had headed on a Julian Ashby cross, and Perry then put a dangerous low ball across the face of goal that no one was able to convert.

However, there were not a lot of chances against a determined visiting defence, with centre back Jack Bradshaw tightly marking leading scorer Stanley, so Brentwood were pleased to take the lead a minute before half time. Nicky Symons found space on the left and pulled the ball back for Gary Henty to convert with a low shot into the corner from just outside the area.

It could have been 2-0 at half time, but Stanley headed over the bar from close in after Darren Blewitt won a Holmes’ corner in the air.

Perry and Steve King both had chances to increase the lead early in the second half but Brentwood needed the security of a second goal as Ware began to enjoy some good possession, and Sam Young shot straight at Brentwood goalkeeper Jack Buckfield from a good position just before the hour.

Symons looked to have increased the lead in the 68th minute when Holmes put him clear. His shot beat Worster but Jack Bradshaw made a miraculous clearance off the line.

But six minutes later Symons won a header in midfield and sent Stanley sprinting through for Brentwood’s second goal, the striker’s 17th of the season.

Ware nearly pulled a goal back in the 78th minute following Kaan Femmi’s corner. The ball reached the feet of Aran Femmi whose shot was well saved by Buckfield. But the home defence, which has conceded fewer goals than any other team in the division, again looked sound, keeping another clean sheet.

Brentwood Town: Buckfield, King, Glozier, Good (Stokes 87), Blewitt, Henty (Parratt 84), Symons, Ashby, Holmes, Stanley (Forbes 76), Perry


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