By Martin Voller

BRENTWOOD TOWN 1 – 1 BIGGLESWADE TOWN

Brentwood Town will make the journey to Bedfordshire after their FA Trophy first qualifying round tie with Biggleswade Town ended in a 1-1 draw at The Arena.

And should they win that, Town will take on 

Sherwin Stanley gave the Blues an early lead but Kelvin Bossman equalised for the Southern League Premier Division side before the break.

The second half was an exciting affair with chances for both sides, but neither was able to find a winner.

Christian Mbulu returned to the starting line up as one of three changes to the side that beat AFC Sudbury on Tuesday. Daryl Robson came in for the suspended Danny Dafter and Danny Aldwinckle was handed his first start after impressing off the bench in the week.

Biggleswade looked bright in the opening few minutes with Greg Morgan looking particularly threatening on the right wing, but it was Brentwood who opened the scoring after 12 minutes.

Moments after Ian Brown produced a fine save to deny Stanley, the striker beat the offside trap and latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from midfield before curling the ball low beyond the keeper to score his fourth goal in as many games.

The Waders looked to make an immediate response and captain Lee Allinson should have done better when he was released into the box, but he skewed his shot well wide of the net.

Stanley squandered an excellent chance to add to Brentwood’s lead and the miss proved costly as Biggleswade drew level in the 40th minute.

Ryan O’Rawe was unable to head clear a long ball forward and Bossman ran in behind the defender before firing an expert half-volley over Ollie Bowles and in at the far post.

Brentwood started the second half well with Stanley forcing a corner from Brown and from the resulting set-piece Mbulu had a shot blocked on the line.

Morgan continued to threaten for Chris Nunn’s side and he created the next real chance in the 67th minute.

The winger charged in off the left and crossed into Lee Reed whose near post shot was well saved by Bowles.

The Waders upped the tempo as full time approached and the Brentwood keeper was forced to make another good save, this time from Morgan.

The visitors continued to pump the ball forward but were unable to find a way through the Blues’ resolute defence as the referee signalled full-time.

Brentwood’s joint-manager Adam Flanagan was happy with the way his side performed, adding: “I don’t think people would have said that we’re the team in the league below and they are the team above.

“It was a very even match and I think if we go there with the right attitude and we apply ourselves right it will probably be another even match at their place.”

The replay will be played this week; the date is yet to be confirmed.

Monday’s Ryman League Cup fixture against Billericay Town is now postponed.

Brentwood: Bowles, Mbulu, Baucutt, Stokes (C), O’Rawe (Gardner 46’), Joslin, Milner (Dobbs 85’), Robson, Stanley, Aldwinckle (Lomotey 58’), Rees.

Unused subs: Rooke, Pellin.