Brentwood secure Premier promotion

HANNAKINS FARM LADIES 1

BRENTWOOD TOWN LADIES 4

(Eastern Region Women's League Division One South)

BRENTWOOD Town Ladies' 4-1 win at local rivals Hannakins Farm secured promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in the club's history.

Manager Ian Bent was understandably delighted after goals from Lucy Faraday, Carla Rose (two) and Danielle Butler during an exceptional first-half put Town's result beyond doubt.

"Promotion was the aim for everyone at the start of the season and to secure that with one game to go is great testament to the attitude and commitment the players have shown all season; they thoroughly deserve this," he said.

Brentwood's rise to the Premier Division was confirmed when news filtered through that Arlesey Town had defeated Billericay Town 2-1 at New Lodge, meaning that Blues could not be surpassed for a second spot that guaranteed promotion.

The results mean that there will now be a straight shootout between Brentwood and Arlesey for the title at the Bedfordshire club's Chateaux Roux Stadium this Sunday.

"We have a great opportunity to go and give winning the division our best shot on Sunday without any pressure on us at all," Bent added.

Brentwood burst out of the blocks and Rose was only stopped from opening the scoring in the second minute when Jacqui Smith blocked her low shot at the near post.

It did, however, only take 10 minutes for Blues to forge ahead as Rose cut the ball back for Faraday at the back post to tap into the bottom left-hand corner.

Two goals from top goalscorer Rose inside three minutes meant that Town were 3-0 up by the midway point of the first half.

First she held off Michaela Standing and raced clear of the defence to slot past Smith, before the persistence of both Rose and strike partner Butler paid off, with the former tricking her way past the custodian and firing the ball into the net.

Further opportunities to add to the lead were spurned but, with five minutes of the first half remaining, Butler controlled Smith's mis-hit clearance before picking her spot and arrowing the ball into the net.

Having made the victory safe before the break, Brentwood were more relaxed after the break and suffered a breach of their back-line with a quarter-of-an-hour left when Georgia Standing hit an exquisite first-time half-volley over Dominique Hume from 35 yards out.

"Our first half performance was close to perfect and I thought 4-0 flattered us a little if I'm honest whilst the second half saw a more even game with few chances," he added.