THIS SATURDAY’S MATCH PREVIEW – BRENTWOOD TOWN (AWAY) KO 3.00PM

Dulwich Hamlet complete a quartet of games against clubs in the relegation zone with a trip into Essex this weekend.

There awaiting will be a Brentwood Town team as equally determined as those the Hamlet have dropped vital points against in the last three outings, a Brentwood Town team as eager to avoid the drop as Dulwich Hamlet are to secure promotion up to National League South. The Blues have been beaten just once in their last five outings, that last Tuesday night’s 2-0 home defeat at the hands of another of the promotion hopefuls, Leiston.

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 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.

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. However, after that narrow loss at Enfield Town, four games without defeat began to steady the ship and though Tuesday’s defeat at home to Leiston left the Blues still threatened by the hangman’s noose, the manager knows that the games in hand exist for the club to escape the drop through the trapdoor back into Ryman North.

This Saturday’s game takes place at The Arena, The Brentwood Centre, 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: Due to planned engineering works there are currently no trains from Liverpool street to Brentwood at weekends. A replacement bus service is in operation from Newbury Park Underground Station (Zone 4 on the Central Line). From the buses depart at 17, 37 & 57 mins past the hour. These buses from Newbury Park to Brentwood are shown as taking 40 mins with one change, whereas Newbury Park to Shenfield (the station after Brentwood) is shown as a direct bus taking 30 mins. Therefore, it would be advisable to take the faster bus to Shenfield, then get another bus back in the opposite direction to reach Brentwood where there is a wait of approximately 10 minutes before the replacement bus back towards Brentwood Station.

From 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 part the A12 road (passing overhead) on the right-hand side.