Saturday 19th January
BOSTIK NORTH DIVISION
BASILDON UNITED 2 - 1 BRENTWOOD TOWN

Two first half goals saw Brentwood Town beaten by Basildon at Gardiners Close on Saturday. Tony Stokes pulled a goal back in the second half, but Blues could not quite find an equaliser.

The visitors looked strong in the opening minutes and Basildon twice cleared off the line as Brentwood pressed for an early goal. But the home side took a ninth minute lead when Blues defence failed to clear following a free kick and Jeffrey Cobblah capitalised to slot past Rob Budd.

Brentwood immediately went in search of an equaliser and Ryan Mallett shot over from a good position following a well-worked move in the fifteenth minute. However, three minutes later Bees were 2-0 up after Cobblah’s run to the left touchline saw him pull the ball across goal where Matheus Santos had a simple tap-in.

Cobblah and Stuart Zanone were a handful for the Blues defence, but the visitors continued to threaten the United goal with pace of Ernest Okoh a constant threat and goalkeeper Joshua Strizovic saved a low drive from Okoh in the 29th minute. Alfie Hilton then shot wide from fifteen yards four minutes before half time following a corner.

Okoh’s created the opening for Stokes to make it 2-1 in the 53rd minute, Okoh’s shot being deflected into the path of Stokes who scored from six yards out. Okoh was then unlucky when he hit the post midway through the second half and as Brentwood continued to press for the equaliser, Stokes volley was well saved by Strizovic.

Brentwood’s Jed Smith was red-carded for a foul in the 90th minute.

Brentwood Town: Budd, Hilton (Doyle 80), Martin, Littlejohn, Mallett (Hughes 62), Smith, Okoh, Carter, Apenteng, Hurford (Hunter 69), Stokes.