MIDWEEK MATCH PREVIEW – BRENTWOOD TOWN (AWAY) KO 7.45PM

After an aborted trip up to Essex in late February when rain washed out play at the Brentwood Arena the Only Way is Essex for Dulwich Hamlet tonight.

Dulwich Hamlet are sure to travel in more upbeat mood after Farnborough pricked the Kingstonian bubble with a 95th minute winner last night at Kingsmeadow. That victory give the ‘Boro hope of avoiding a double-relegation brought about by financial difficulties that various incarnations of the Cherrywood Road seem to fall foul of on a seasonal basis. Whilst it was good news for the Hamlet, it was not such glad tidings for Brentwood Town who found themselves further adrift of safety and needing every point on offer to create a buffer zone between them and the trapdoor back to Ryman Division One North

In ordinary circumstances last Saturday’s scoreless draw at home to Dulwich’s promotion rivals, Kingstonian, might have been seen as a worthy result. However, with Needham Market picking up a much-needed three points away to crisis club Grays Athletic, the gap between survival and surrender widened to nine points. With just four games left including tonight, the Blues must climb a mountain to get out of this hole.

Saturday’s game at the Brentwood Arena was the proverbial game of two halves. Few would have taken the odds on the Essex men, no matter how generous. Yet early doors it was the K’s on the back foot as they struggled to cope with Blues’ striker Tom Richardson. Kingstonian looked a different team after the break and dominated the second half, but they couldn't beat the impressive Ollie Bowles, who pulled off a string of fine saves in the Town net.

Yet it has been a season of much contrast for Brentwood Town, promoted via the playoffs from the North Division, they made a steady start to life at the top table, only to mutate into the division’s Jekyll and Hyde team. As August turned into September four games inside 12 days saw the Blues comprehensively hammered 4-0 at first Tonbridge Angels then Grays, whilst also recording a 4-1 win at home to Leatherhead then a stunning 7-0 win over a Staines Town side yet to implode in the wake of their FA Cup exit.

By the time they arrived at Champion Hill it was Jekyll not Hyde that emerged. Danny Waldren gave Dulwich Hamlet the lead three minutes before the break after much prodding and probing in front of goal before unleashing the whirlwind after the interval. Danny Waldren’s header doubled the lead seven minutes after halftime with goals from Calum Willock and Dan Sweeney completing the ravaging. The final score 4-0 to Gavin Rose’s men.

A fortnight later manager Dean Holdsworth took his leave of the Arena hot seat citing business commitments. The former Bolton Wanderers and Wimbledon striker was linked with the heading up of a consortium looking to buy Bolton Wanderers as well as holding other business interests, including being the chief executive of the Non-League Footballers' Association. So just five months into his tenure at the Arena he decided to call an end to his time as Brentwood boss. Former Dulwich Hamlet man, George Borg stepped into the breach but a month later he too stood aside the reins passing to Mike Flanagan. Like father, like son; the new supremo the father of former Blues boss Adam Flanagan, who had led Brentwood to promotion before leaving to take over at Vanarama National League South side Concord Rangers.

Flanagan inherited a side that had slipped from a position of some safety in 12th spot into the relegation zone on the back of a six game winless run and exit from the FA Trophy after a 2-0 lead had evaporated on the road at Bideford. The new Number One found his plans disrupted by the wet winter weather and a raft of postponements on the notorious Arena pitch.

After a run of four games without defeat a Tuesday night 2-0 home defeat at the hands of erstwhile promotion hopefuls, Leiston, put the brakes on the renaissance and left the Blues still threatened by the hangman’s noose. Prior to that match they had proven themselves resilient opposition against promotion chasers such as Enfield Town, to whom they lost to a last gasp goal from Cladiu Vilcu, and Essex neighbours Billericay Town, drawing one-all at the New Lodge or the likes of a Canvey Island side shorn of confidence and fortune since topping the table before Christmas. Against the Gulls, Brentwood had a distinct touch of the Blues, trailing at home by three clear goals at the interval. However, it was a horse of different colour come the second 45 minutes as Town stormed back to level at three-apiece Martyn Stokes snatching a share of the points with a last gasp equaliser.

Still the Blues found themselves ensconced in the bottom four. As they began to play catch-up with their home fixtures, victories proved frustratingly difficult to come by and though they picked up wins at home to Harrow Borough and away at Staines Town, these were rare chinks of light in dark times. Nine games were packed into March but just eight points were accumulated from the 27 on offer.

April began not with showers but an absolute torrent as floodgates opened at Hampton & Richmond Borough, the Blues washed away by the rampaging Beavers. In touching distance at the break, recent arrival Alex Teniola narrowing the gap after quick-fire goals from Leon Solomon and Jamal Lowe sandwiching a penalty miss from the visitors’ Robbie Rees, the Blues were left for dead by a second half Beaver blitzkrieg. Brendan Kiernan, Tom Beere and Charlie Moone all found the net whilst Brentwood were reduced to ten men as Stokes saw red for a two-footed challenge deemed dangerous by the man in black.

A return to the Arena last Tuesday and a return to winning ways at seventh time of asking. Hendon were the unfortunate victims of the merciless Blues as the escape route opened up once more. Experienced striker Teniola bagged a hat-trick whilst Sam Bantick scored on his return from Concord Rangers on dual registration as Brentwood Town emerged victorious 4-1, their biggest win since a late autumn 5-1 romp away to Lewes.

This Tuesday’s game takes place at The Brentwood Centre Arena, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9NN.

Admission Prices

• £8 Adults
• £4 concessions (Senior Citizens 65+, Students)
• £1 children under 16

Match day programmes are priced at £1.

Directions: By road: from the Blackwall tunnel, follow the A102 and A102 (M) and the A12 to Wanstead. Do not join the M11 but continue on the A12 at Redbridge until you reach the M25 (Junction 28). Do not join the motorway, but take the A1023 into Brentwood, Turn left in the town centre onto the A128 and fork right into Doddinghurst Road. Shortly after passing under the A12, the ground is on the right.

An alternative route from the Blackwall Tunnel is to take the A13 to Thurrock and turn left on to the M25 (junction 30) to junction 28. The proceed as above. This is slightly further but a much better road.

By rail: Brentwood Station is served by regular trains out of London Liverpool Street station and sits with the Oystercard area (Zone 9). On disembarking at Brentwood Station turn right into King’s Road, cross over the main road (A1023) and turn right into Western Road, which becomes Western Avenue. At the main road (A128) turn left then first right into Doddinghurst Road. The Brentwood Arena is just past the A12 road (passing overhead) on the right-hand side.