Brentwood's struggle continues with home humbling

BRENTWOOD TOWN 0

THAMESMEAD TOWN 2

(Ryman Division One North)

A PROFESSIONAL Thamesmead performance proved enough to overcome Brentwood.

On a run of six games without a win, Brentwood boss Les Whitton rang the changes for this encounter, as Darren Ebsworth, Jason Mason, Dee Okojie and Dean Pennant all came into the starting line up.

The Blues started the game much the stronger side, and passed the ball with a fluency that their opponents lacked. Both Pennant and Okojie were in the game early down either flank, yet Brentwood were unable to transfer their dominance in possession into a clear cut opening.

A chipped cross from Ojokie in the ninth minute allowed Darren Blewitt to spring the offside trap, but the centre-back's first touch let him down and Thamesmead were able to clear.

Both Piers Wixon and Kris Lee managed to find half a yard of space as the half wore on, but were unable to test Steve Northwood in the Thamesmead goal.

For their part, Thamesmead struggled to gain any real momentum in the opening exchanges, particularly after centre-forward Lee Barnett was injured early in the match.

The turning point came in 27th minute when Andy Constable raced onto a through ball, and was unlucky to see his shot bounce off the post back into the arms of the grateful 'keeper Jim Hasell.

Although this did not break the deadlock, it proved to be a warning shot as to just how dangerous Thamesmead were on the counter attack.

Ten minutes later, Hasell raced out of his area to attempt to sweep up a long ball, but his headed clearance fell to the feet of Constable. The burly striker steadied himself, before aiming a 20 yard lob over Hasell and a sea of defenders into the net.

A 1-0 deficit was harsh on Brentwood, who were still enjoying far more of the possession, and it almost got worse on the stroke of half time when a diving header from Marcus Perona thudded onto the crossbar.

Thamesmead came out for the second half clearly determined to kill the game as quickly as possible.

It took just nine minutes of the second half for them to find a second goal when substitute Callum Mageehan found acres of space at the edge of the Brentwood penalty area and he arrowed a shot into the bottom corner of Hasell's net.

Immediately after, Mageehan rattled the Brentwood woodwork for a remarkable third time with a thumping volley. Thamesmead were threatening to overrun the game, as Constable in particular manipulated the Brentwood defence.

The introduction of Gary Bowes allowed the Blues to begin to gain some momentum as the half drew to a close, and he had a couple of shots well saved by Northwood. However, as the half wore on, Thamesmead became more than happy to allow Brentwood to pass the ball around along their back line, but nullified any attacking threat with relative ease.

Parmenter and Ebbsworth both fired long range efforts wide, but the game drifted to its conclusion with no real excitement leaving Brentwood seven games without a win and perilously close to the relegation zone.