SATURDAY 4TH JANUARY
ISTHMIAN NORTH
COGGESHALL TOWN 0 – 1 BRENTWOOD TOWN

Brentwood Town’s first match since 10th December saw them earn a welcome three points away to play-off contenders Coggeshall. Rene Batlokwa’s goal in the opening minute of the second half proved decisive and Blues defended well and kept their first clean sheet in the league this season.

The visitors created some good openings in the first half with Coggeshall goalkeeper Matt Walker turning an Andy Freeman shot onto the crossbar and Batlokwa also tested Walker on a couple of occasions.

Striker Sewa Marah had scored four goals in Brentwood’s last three matches but he is now a Coggeshall Town player. However, he was unable to hurt his old club, being forced off with an injury six minutes before half time.

Blues keeper Tim Brown was also busy and made a fine save just before half time, diving low to his right to turn away a header by Seedgrowers Eoin McKeown.

The winner came soon after the restart. Freeman surged forward to the edge of the Coggeshall area and found Connor Hogan who fed the ball on to Batlokwa who produced an excellent finish across goal into the far corner.

The home side’s task became harder from the 62nd minute when George Cocklin was red carded but they pressed hard for an equaliser as the second half progressed. Blues defence was in good form and kept them out to secure a deserved win.

Despite this fine win, Brentwood remain next to bottom of the Isthmian North division after all the teams above them drew. But Brentwood do have games in hand on all the teams above them.

Brentwood Town: Brown, Milner, Pugsley, Freeman, Kemsley, Edwards, Furlonge, Hogan, Babalola (Portway 71), Wiggins (Anderson 59), Batlokwa (Campbell 80).