FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

BRENTWOOD TOWN 3 FC CLACTON 3

BRENTWOOD Town faced a trip to the Rush Green Bowl on Tuesday night after Aaron Condon forced an FA Cup replay with an injury time equaliser.

Two goals from Brentwood captain James Love gave the hosts a deserved half time lead, but FC Clacton bounced back in the second half and striker Aaron Condon levelled things up with a brace.

Ally McInnes’ own goal put the hosts back in front seven minutes from time but they couldn’t hold on to their lead and Condon grabbed his third of the game in injury time to force the replay.

Blues manager Les Whitton made four changes to the side that lost to Waltham Abbey on Monday night and it was one of those changes who gave the hosts the lead after five minutes.

Dan Subuola whipped a corner into the box and James Love rose unchallenged to head in from six yards out.

Love, who captained the Blues, doubled their lead ten minutes later, coming in off the wing before driving a fierce shot at goal from outside the box which goalkeeper Joe Fowler couldn’t stop.

Despite the fortunate second goal, Brentwood deserved their lead and could have added more. Petrit Elbi had a few chances, but John Bradley came closest, smashing a shot towards the underside of the bar from the edge of the box.

A dominant first half from Brentwood and a deserved lead, but the second half wasn’t such a walk in the park.

The hosts were wasteful in front of goal and they were punished when a penalty was awarded for an unfair challenge from Gbenga Sonuga.

Aaron Condon stepped up and had his original effort saved but he was quickest to react and made no mistake from the rebound, slotting home after 75 minutes.

The penalty was certainly the turning point. Suddenly the hosts were on the back foot and seven minutes later the teams were level.

Brentwood keeper George Kamurasi failed to collect a looping ball into the box and Condon was there to finish from close range.

But their lead lasted just over a minute. Substitute Sipho Mtynada curled a ball towards the back post and it was turned in by Seasiders defender Ally McInnes.

But once again this season Brentwood let their lead slip and the Seasiders got the equaliser in the first minute of injury time courtesy of Condon who completed a hat-trick with a powerful left-footed strike just inside the post.

Condon was sent off moments later when he picked up his second yellow card after a foul on Petrit Elbi. Love whipped in the free kick but nobody could connect and the referee blew for full-time.

A tough one to take for Brentwood, having been dominant for much of the game, but the penalty coupled with an error from the goalkeeper let Ray Turner’s side back in it.

Town’s first team coach Michael Wetherall said: “We go forward in the first half, play very well, second half we miss open chances, go back in our own box and fail to clear our lines, and that cost us.

“The players have now got to go there and get themselves out of it.”

A tale of two halves at the Arena. The game could really have been finished by half time.

Brentwood Town: Kamurasi, Love, Stokes, Sonuga, Dixon, Adebayo, Carvell (Spurge 61), Bradley, Dobbs (Mtyanda 61), Elbi, Subuola.