Butterworth saves point for Blues (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Butterworth saves point for Blues

11:07am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Sport

RYMAN DIVISION ONE NORTH BRENTWOOD TOWN 1 TILBURY 1

BRENTWOOD Town began the new Ryman League season with a draw against local rivals Tilbury at the Arena on Saturday.

It took an injury time equaliser from substitute Steve Butterworth to earn a point for Blues after Tom Wraight’s 74th-minute opener for Tilbury.

Darren Blewitt is suspended and The Blues line-up included a number of new signings, Conor Mead at right back and Frank Everett, a former youth team player at Brentwood is back at the club and lined up in the centre of the defence.

In midfield, Abs Thompson and Greg Cohen made their Brentwood debuts, and the attack was led by Sherwin Stanley, another player in his second spell with Blues.

On a very hot afternoon, the visitors settled first and striker Emile Aiken created space for a shot in the first minute but was off target.

Jack Carlile then had a shot blocked by the home defence before Blues got their first chance in the tenth minute when Thompson released Neil Cousins who forced wide by Dockers goalkeeper James Marrable.

Cousins quickly pulled the ball back for Lee Blackburn whose shot was saved by Marrable.

Two minutes later Cousins headed just wide from a Stanley cross but in an even first half, the best chance fell to Danny Francis who was put clean through in the 28th minute but shot just wide of Brentwood goalkeeper Elliot Justham’s post.

Cousins and Sherwin Stanley threatened to put the Blues ahead as the home side got on top in the second half but they were stunned when Tom Wraight headed in Aiken’s cross.

Brentwood’s late pressure looked to be in vain until Butterworth’s late goal earned a point. Butterworth latched on to Neil Cousins’s flick to coolly beat Dockers keeper James Marrable in the third minute of stoppage time.

Brentwood Town: Justham, Mead, Seymour, C. Witherspoon, Russell, Everett, Thompson (Morgan 82), Blackburn, Stanley (Butterworth 60), Cousins, Cohen (Rees 82). Unused subs: Williams, Cross.