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Wingate & Finchley 2 Brentwood 2

11:50am Monday 23rd November 2009


BRENTWOOD twice took the lead in this entertaining game, but in the end had to settle for a draw, a result that extended their unbeaten league run to five games.

It was a competitive encounter at times. One incident, just before half time, saw four yellow cards issued and in total there were eight yellows in the match, three of them to Brentwood players.

The pitch at the Harry Abrahams stadium was in excellent condition but with much of the game played in squally rain, the slippery surface made life difficult for the defences and, in only the second minute, Brentwood captain Steve Good had to rescue his side with a typically well-timed tackle on Wingate’s Dave Laird.

Brentwood, with Gary Henty and Ross Parmenter prominent in midfield, gradually got on top. George Lay’s pass set up Joe Sweeney in the 17th minute but the striker’s shot went just wide into the side netting.

The visitors had a scare in the 22nd minute when keeper James Hasell slipped and Leon Smith had a chance but Reiss Noel blocked and Hasell saved the follow-up.

After a spell of several minutes of pressure, Brentwood took a deserved lead in the 29th minute when Good forced the ball home after a Parmenter corner.

Lay nearly increased the lead two minutes later but Wingate keeper Gavin King was quickly off his line to smother at the winger’s feet.

Following a clash of heads between Brentwood’s James Love and Chris Chase the Wingate player had to be substituted with suspected concussion.

After a lengthy delay Brentwood were caught cold when the game restarted and conceded an equaliser.

James Edgerley found space and time on the right and clipped a cross onto the head of the unmarked Laird who scored easily.

Sweeney was unlucky not to restore Brentwood’s lead just before half time when his shot hit the inside of a post and rebounded straight into the arms of King.

Brentwood made two changes at half time, bringing on Donovan Wilson for Love, who was still suffering from that clash of heads in the first half, and replacing Lay with Jack Carlile, a new signing from Concord Rangers.

The home side started the second period the stronger and Rob Ursell and Craig Ellis both missed good chances in the opening five minutes.

But Brentwood regained their composure Sweeney went close again with a good effort past the post.

With the weather deteriorating chances increased. Wingate had been keeping a tight rein on the threat of Dee Okojie on the right wing but as the game progressed he began to impose himself more on the game.

And it was a run from Okojie that set up Brentwood’s second goal in the 73rd minute, Petrit Elbi having the easy job of side-footing home the winger’s cross.

Once again, Brentwood could not hold on to the lead for long and substitute James Gershfield made it 2-2 in the 79th minute, scoring from close range.

Chances continued to come at both ends right to the end with Hasell making a good save from Ursell and Carlile close to opening his Brentwood goal account but his header was saved by King.

Brentwood lost skipper Good with a hamstring injury in the dying seconds, and he may miss Tuesday’s game at home to Romford.

Brentwood Town: Hasell, Love (Wilson 46), Glozier, Noel (Fletcher 90), Good, Parmenter, Okojie, Henty, Elbi, Sweeney (Elbi 80), Lay (Carlile 46). Unused subs: Priest, Pyne


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