THE 2ND TEAM BOUNCED BACK TO FORM WITH A 6-1 VICTORY OVER COMBER YM II AT LONDONDERRY PARK ON SATURDAY WITH JONNY TATE GRABBING A HAT TRICK IN HIS FIRST GAME BACK AFTER A FEW WEEKS OUT. THE FIRST HALF SAW NEARLY ALL THE PLAY IN THE COMBER HALF WITH CURRY HAVING ALOT OF JOY DOWN THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AGAINST AN UNUSALLY LACKLUSTRE COMBER YM SIDE WHO USUALLY GIVE A VERY GOOD ACCOUNT OF THEMSELVES BUT ON THIS OCCASION THAY NEVER REALLY LOOKED LIKE TROUBLING THE AWAY TEAM. WITH ALL THE PLAY BRENTWOOD HAD THEY STILL DIDNT CREATE TOO MANY CLEAR CUT CHANCES WITH THE HOME KEEPER DEALING WELL WITH THE NUMEROUS CROSSES AND CORNERS COMING AT HIM AND THE FIRST TIME HE WAS BEATEN THE BAR CAME TO COMBERS RESCUE AFTER A GREAT EFFORT FROM CURRY. BRENTWOODS DEFENCE WERE RARELY TROUBLED AND THE FIRST GOAL WAS ONLY EVER GOING TO COME FROM THE LEADERS ANDWHEN KELLY WAS  FOULED IN THE BOX AFTER A CURRY FREE KICK A PENALTY WAS AWARDED EVEN THOUGH McGIVERN HAD PUT THE BAL IN THE NET AND TATE MADE IT 1-0 FROM THE SPOT. THE SECOND ARRIVED 15 MINUTES LATER WHEN ALAN KELLY CAUSED HAVOC ON THE RIGHT BEATIN THE COMBER BACK LINE WITH EASE AND PULLING THE BALL BACK FOR CAIRNDUFF TO SLAM HOME FOR 2-0.THE REST OF THE HALF WAS PLAYED OUT WITH SOME EASE BUT THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF THE 2ND SAW COMBER COME INTO THE GAME MORE AS BRENTWOOD STRUGGLED TO KEEP UP THEIR DOMINANCE AND WHEN THE DEFICT WAS REDUCED TO 1 GOAL A BIT OF PANIC SET IN AS COMBER CAME CLOSE TO LEVELLING. ALAN KELLY HOWEVER CAME TO THE RESCUE LATCHING ONTO A DEFENSIVE MISTAKE AND ROUNDING THE KEEPER FOR 3-1 AND FROM THEN ON IN IT WAS PLAIN SAILING AS 3 MORE GOALS WERE ADDED CURRY DESERVEDLY GOT ON THE SCORESHEET BEFORE TATE SCORED ANOTHER PENALTY AND GREAT WORK FROM SUB DANNY SMYTH CHASING DOWN AND WINNING THE BALL BEFORE CROSSING FOR TATE TO BANG IN HIS HAT TRICK AND SEAL THE VICTORY IN STYLE

Ravenhill 1 Brentwood 3

The early exchanges were shared by each team although Brentwood probably had
better opportunities to open the scoring.  Two individual errors in key
areas of the pitch led to Ravenhill opening the scoring in the 17th minute,
however Brentwood equalised within 3 minutes when a deep Jason Johnston
corner was headed back by Darren Kincaid for Graham Sloan to score from
close range.

The second half began with Peter Fry firing over the crossbar from 15 yards
but in the next attack the ball fell to Darren Kincaid 20 yards out and
following a neat turn he chipped the ball over the keeper into the net.
Ravenhill pushed for the equaliser but on 75 minutes Jason Johnston sealed
the victory to lift his side into third place in the league.

Brentwood suffer first defeat

Brentwood II 2 v 3 Stranmillis

A first defeat for the league leaders at the weekend as Stranmillis went away with all three points after a closely fought contest. Stranmillis had by far the better of the first half hour as Brentwood struggled to close down their opponents allowing them to play the ball around with ease continually pressing the home team back, against the run of play however Brentwood took the lead when Hulbert done well to win the ball in the centre circle and beat a couple of players and playing a great ball to Kelly who rounded the keeper and slid home for 1-0.

 Stranmillis came back strongly and deservedly equalized soon after. Brentwood started to raise their game after that and Alan Kelly came to life causing all sorts of problems for the away defence and with Hulbert also being pushed further forward Brentwood had gained control and were unlucky not to take the lead on several occasions through Hulbert and Cairnduff who produced a wonder save from the keeper.

In the second half the game became very scrappy on the heavy pitch with both sides not being able to play much football although one good passage of play gave Brentwood the lead finished by Cairnduff for his  third goal in two starts. Stranmillis weren’t finished yet and pushed hard sensing that Brentwood were struggling at the back without Derek Burch who had to leave the pitch with twenty minutes left and they were soon level when a 25 yard effort flew into the top corner leaving the stand in keeper Noble with no chance. Both teams had chance to win the game but it was the away side who triumphed with only three minutes left as Brentwood failed to clear leaving their striker a clean strike at goal and he made no mistake. The effort cannot be faulted but a disappointing result and a better performance needed next week against Queens .

For the first 30 minutes the game mainly consisted of attacks from the home
team although they didn't really trouble the opposing goalkeeper.  On 35
minutes a Darren Kincaid header produced a fine save from the goalkeeper
following an inviting cross from Graham Sloan.  Two minutes later the
pressure paid off when a cross from Stuart Thompson was glanced into the
roof of the net by Graham Sloan.

Brentwood began the second half in a similar fashion to the first and
doubled their lead when Robert White coolly finished off a  superb move.
Shortly after the restart Brentwood should have closed down the Bryansburn
forward quicker and his deflected shot sailed into the net.


This set back was short lived when Mark Liddell restored the two goal
cushion with a tremendous left foot drive from the edge of the box.
Brentwood continued to create chances and on 65 minutes good combination
play between Graham Sloan and Robert White  resulted in the later scoring
his second goal of the match to leave the final score 4-1 to Brentwood.

Steven Cairnduff made the perfect start to his debut scoring after only two minutes in the top of the table clash against Vision seconds.Vision lay three points adrift before kick off knowing a win would bring them level at the top.But Brentwood had other ideas and got of to a great start when Cairnduff lashed home after a goalmouth scramble and the leaders were on their way. Brentwood were creating alot of problems for the home side down the wings with hulbert and McMurray working well together and it was the long throw ins of McMurrays that were to be the biggest thorn in Visions side as Brentwood grabbed their second when a defender tried to clear from one he could only fick into his own net for 2-0. Cairnduff rifled in his second goal soon after to give Brentwood a three nil half time lead. Vision pushed hard in the second half but Brentwood were content to hold their lead and not commit to much and they hit Vision on the break reguraly adding another from Marty Curry and Alan kelly finished the scoring to send them six points clear at the top. A hard working diplay from all and another clean sheet for the defence marshalled well again by Derek Burch

NEWTOWN FOREST II 0 V 6 BRENTWOOD II

ALAN KELLY WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW ON SATURDAY SLAMMING IN FOUR GOALS AS BRENTWOOD BRUSHED ASIDE THE CHALLENGE OF THEIR 2B OPPONENTS IN THE RESERVE TEAM CUP. ALSO ON THE SCORESHEET WERE TERRY McDOWELL AND JONNY DORRIAN WITH A SUPERB EFFORT FROM THE HALFWAY LINE. AS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY WEEK BRENTWOOD NEVER REALLY GOT GOING IN THE FIRST HALF BUT STILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF SIGHT AS ROY , KELLY AND NUMEROUS OTHERS MISSED GLARING CHANCES BUT FINALLY KELLY WAS PUT CLEAR AND FINISHED AT THE SECOND ATTEMPT. FOREST ONLY HAD ONE CHANCE TO SCORE WHEN A MISTAKE BY BURCH LET THEIR STRIKER IN ON GOAL BUT HE PANICED AND THE KEEPER MADE AN EASY SAVE AT HIS FEET. HT 1-0

THE SECOND HALF WAS MUCH BETTER AND WE ONLY HAD SEVEN SECONDS TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND GOAL AS KELLY TOOK THE KICK OFF AND RAN PAST NO LESS THAN 5 PLAYERS BEFORE SMASHING THE BALL INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET .WITH CURRY ON THE RIGHT COMING FAR MORE INTO THE GAME AND BRENTWOODS PASSING GAME  MUCH MORE EVIDENT  THEY CONTINUALLY OPENED UP THE FOREST DEFENCE AND ADDED A THIRD AFTER CURRY MIS HIT FROM 8 YARDS BUT KELLY TAPPED IN. McDOWELL CAME ON FOR CURRY WHO WAS TAKEN OFF AS A PRECAUTION AHEAD OF NEXT WEEKS TIE WITH VISION DUE TO HIS REOCCURING GROIN STRAIN AND HE FOUND THE NET AS A CROSS COME SHOT EVADED THE KEEPER FOR 4-0.  KELLY GRABBED HIS FOURTH SOON AFTER BEFORE BEING BROUGHT OFF AS WELL TO AVOID ANY INJURY. THE 6TH WAS A BRILLANT EFFORT FROM DORRIAN WHO TOOK ONE TOUCH AND SAILED THE BALL PERFECTLY OVER THE KEEPER FROM THE HALFWAY LINE TO FINISH THE SCORING AND BRENTWOOD ARE SAFELY INTO ROUND 2

Greenwell however were still in the game and caused a few moments of panic for the away team and were unlucky when a great move resulted in the ball flashing right across the goalmouth past 3 greenwell players and away to safety. another great chance fell to Kelly as he was again put through by Curry but this tim the ball came back of the post and he had his head in his hands again 8 minutes later when the ball fell kindly 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy but sent his volley high and wide. McGivern had the last chance in injury time from a free on the left but couldnt quite make contact and soon after the final whistle blew for end the 100% record.

BRENTWOOD BEGAN THIS CUP GAME ON TOP BUT IT WAS BALLYGOWAN WHO TOOK THE LEAD AFTER 7 MINUTES AFTER SOME SLACK DEFENDING.. BRENTWOOD SHOWED CHARACTER THOUGH AND DIDNT LET THE EARLY SETBACK UPSET THEIR SHORT PASSING GAME AND WHERE REWARDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS WHEN A LIDDEL EFFORT FELL TO JASON JOHNSTON WHO CROSSED  TO THE FAR POST TO BROTHER JOHN WHO HEADED HOME FOR 1-1. THE AWAY TEAM KEPT PRESSING AND WHEN THE BALL FELL TO JOHN JOHNSTON AGAIN HE MADE NO MISTAKE LETTING RIP FROM FULLY 30 YARDS FOR 2-1. THE SECOND HALF WAS A TIGHT AFFAIR WITH BOTH TEAMS HAVING CHANCES AND IT WAS BALLYGOWAN WHO TOOK ONE TO SQUARE THE MATCH UP . BUT WITH TIME RUNNING OUT AND EXTRA TIME LOOMING DARREN KINCAID SEALED THE VICTORY WITH A STUNNING EFFORT FROM 25 YARDS OUT TO SEND BRENTWOOD TO ROUND 2

7 WINS IN A ROW NOW FOR THE SECONDS AFTER THIS EMPHATIC WIN AGAINST BRYANSBURN. THE FIRST HALF DID NOT START ACCORDING TO PLAN THOUGH AS BRENTWOOD STRUGGLED TO FIND ANY RYTHYM WITH MORE THAN A FEW PLAYERS STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR TOUCH AND AWARENESS AND THEY PAID FOR THEIR SLUGGISH APPROACH WHEN THAY FELLL BEHIND TO A SOFT GOAL AFTER STAND IN KEEPER RUSSELL FLAPPED AT SPECULITIVE EFFORT. SLOWLY BRENTWOOD BEGAN TO CAUSE SOME DANGER AND GIVEN A ROUTE BACK INTO THE GAME WHEN TATE STROKED HOME A PENALTY AFTER A HAND BALL ON THE GOAL LINE . THE HOME SIDES FIRST REAL TEAM MOVE PRODUCED THE 2ND SOON AFTER WHEN A MATT HULBERT WAS RELEASED DOWN THE LEFT AND HE BEAT HIS MARKER EASILY AND CROSSED LOW AND HARD FOR KELLY TO SLAM HOME. KELLY GOT HIS 2ND TEN MINUTES LATER WHEN TATE PLAYED THE BALL INTO HIS FEET ON THE EDGE OF THE BOX AND HE SPUN AWAY FROM THE LAST MAN AND SLOTTED THE BALL HOME FOR 3-1. EVEN WITH A 2 GOAL HT LEAD THE TEAM HAD BEEN VERY OFF COLOUR IN THE FIRST HALF BUT THAT WOULD CHANGE IN THE SECOND HALF AFTER A COUPLE OF CHANGES WERE MADE WITH JONNY ROY AND MARTY CURRY BEING INTRODUCED THIS ALLOWED HULBERT TO PLAY WIDE LEFT WITH CURRY ON THE RIGHT AND BOTH CAUSED PLENTY OF PROBLEMS RIGHT FROM THE START IN FACT THE WHOLE TEAM UPPED THEIR GAME PASSING THE BALL AROUND WITH CONFIDENCE AND IT WASNT LONG BEFORE MORE GOALS ARRIVED FROM TATE AND CURRY BEFORE BURCH HEADED HOME FROM A CORNER , SUB LYTTLE FINISHED OFF A WONDERFUL MOVE BEFORE NIGEL SMYTH GOT IN ON THE ACT FOR THE EIGHTH AND ROY GOT THE NINTH BEFORE THE REF BLEW UP 10 MINUTES EARLY.

1 RUSSELL, 2 SMYTH - 3 FLYNN - 4 BURCH - 5 McGIVERN - 6 - KELLY - 7 SCOTT - 8 TATE - 9 - HULBERT - 10 - DORRIAN - 11 NOBLE    ---- SUBS  - ROY - LYTTLE - CURRY

BRENTWOOD 2NDS CAME THROUGH A MASSIVELY HARD TASK AWAY TO RAVENHILL YM AT HYDE BANK TO CLAIM THEIR 6TH WIN IN A ROW . THE TEAM SUFFERED A MASSIVE SET BACK BEFORE THE GAME AS NO LESS THAN 5 REGULARS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR VARIOUS REASONS WHICH MEANT HEADACHES FOR THE MANAGER TRYING TO PUT A TEAM CAPABLE OF GETTING A RESULT ONTO THE PITCH. IN THE END 12 TRAVELLED TO THE GAME WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT MATCH NO MATTER WHAT TEAM WAS AVAILABLE BUT EVERYONE THAT PLAYED GAVE 110% . RAVENHILL REALLY PUSHED HARD AGAINST A VERY BUSY BRENTWOOD DEFENCE PLAYING SOME NICE FOOTBALL AND GETTING THE BALL INTO THE BOX AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, ALTHOUGH IN THE 1ST HALF THEY WERE FORCED INTO MOSTLY LONG RANGE EFFORTS AS A REARRANGED DEFENCE WORKED THEIR SOCKS OFF TO TRY AND PROTECT DEAN RUSSELL WHO WAS HELPING OUT IN GOALS AS REGULAR JAMES GORDON WAS UNAVAILABLE. BRENTWOOD WERE FINDING IT DIFFICULT EARLY ON BUT DID GET INTO THE GAME MIDWAY THROUGH THE HALF WITH ALAN KELLY CAUSING A FEW PROBLEMS ON THE WING FOR THE HOME SIDE BUT IT WAS BRENDAN FLYNN IN DEFENCE THAT GAVE BRENTWOOD THE LEAD AND A GREAT EFFORT IT WAS AS WELL. HE COLLECTED THE BALL ON THE HALF WAY LINE AND BARGED HIS WAY THROUGH NO LESS THAN 4 PLAYERS BEFORE A NEAT ONE TWO WITH SCOTT AND PUT THE BALL INTO THE CORNER DESPITE THE KEEPER GETTING A HAND TO THE BALL. BRENTWOOD KNEW NOW THAT THEY HAD SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO AS RAVENHILL WERE ALWAYS GOING TO COME AT THEM EVEN MORE NOW AND THEY VERY NEARLY EQUALISED A FEW TIMES AS THE HALF WORE ON WITH THEIR STRIKERS MISSING GUILT EDGED CHANCES BUT THE AWAY SIDE HELD ONTO HALF TIME.

THE SECOND HALF WASNT EVEN 10 MINUTES OLD WHEN McMURRAY RECIEVED A RED CARD FOR BACK CHAT AND BRENTWOODS CAUSE WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BUT EVERYONE DUG IN FOR THE FINAL 35 MINUTES WITH RAVENHILL THROWING EVERYTHING THEY HAD AT THEM AND THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE SCORED WITH A NEAR POST HEADER THAT WENT JUST THE WRONG SIDE OF THE POST AND ALSO TITT FREE AT THE BACKPOST WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE AN EASY FINISH BUT HE MISSED THE BALL COMPLETLY FOR A LET OFF. AN EVEN BIGGER LET OFF WAS TO COME AS A RAVENHILL DEFENDER CAME RUSHING IN TO SMASH THE BALL OFF THE BAR AND DOWN OFF THE LINE BEFORE EVENTUALLY BEING CLEARED. RAVENHILL EVENTUALLY SCORED WITH ABOUT 20 MINS TO GO THE BALL BEING EASILY DISPATCHED AFTER A LEFT WING BALL FOUND THE UNMARKED PLAYER FOR 1-1.SOME TEAMS MIGHT HAVE CAVED IN AFTER THAT BUT EVERY PLAYER PULLED TOGETHER TO KEEP THEM AT BAY AND WITH 5 MINUTES TO GO WERE REWARDED FOR THEIR EFFORT WHEN BRENTWOOD WERE AWARDED A FREE KICK 3 YARDS INSIDE THEIR OWN HALF AND JOHNNY TATE SAW THE KEEPER OF HIS LINE AND UNLEASHED A WONDERFUL EFFORT THAT WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE TOP CORNER TO GIVE BRENTWOOD A VERY HARD EARNED VICTORY AND LEAVE RAVENHILL BROKEN HEARTED. THE HOME TEAM WILL FEEL VERY HARD DONE BY BUT FOR BRENTWOOD A GREAT EFFORT BY ALL ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY HAVING TO PLAY OUT OF POSITION AND GIVE THEMSELVES A 9 POINT CUSHION OVER THEIR OPPONENTS WHICH WILL BE IMPORTANT AS THEY WILL SURELY BE CHALLENGING FOR THE TITLE

HIGH WINDS RUINED ANY CHANCE OF A DECENT FOOTBALL MATCH ON SATURDAY AT THE WEST WINDS BETWEEN BRENTWOOD AND COMBER YM BUT FAIR PLAY TO BOTH SIDES FOR TRYING TO PLAY AS  MUCH FOOTBALL AS THEY COULD. BRENTWOOD OPENED THE STRONGEST CONSTANTLY PUTTING THEIR OPPONENTS ON THE BACK FOOT BUT WITHOUT CAUSING ANY REAL DANGER. AND ALTHOUGH ROBSON IN GOAL WAS UNDER LITTLE PRESSURE HIMSELF IT WAS COMBER WHO TOOK THE LEAD AFTER SLACK MARKING FROM A CORNER ALLOWED BAILEY TO HEAD HOME FOR 1-0 TO COMBER. THE REAST OF THE HALF HAD LITTLE ELSE TO OFFER APART FROM COMBER MISSING A GREAT CHANCE FOR A SECOND WHEN THEY HIT THE POST JUST BEFORE THE HALF. BRENTWOOD OPENED IN MUCH BRIGHTER FASHION IN THE 2ND PERIOD AND THE SWITCH OF GORDON TO THE RIGHT WING PAID DIVIDENDS 5 MINUTES IN WHEN HE RACED AWAY DOWN THE LINE AND PLACED THE BALL HIGH TO THE BACK POST AND INTO THE NET. ALL OF A SUDDEN BRENTWOOD WERE GETTING ALOT OF JOY DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT WAS GORDON INVOLVED AGAIN WHEN THEY TOOK THE LEAD SOME NEAT PASSING RELEASED GORDON AND HE DRILLED THE BALL ACROSS TO THE NEAR POST AND JONNY TATE SMACKED THE BALL HIGH INTO THE NET. COMBER TRIED TO SEARCH FOR AN EQUALISER BUT RARELY TROUBLE THE HOME DEFENCE AND BRENTWOOD SEEN THE GAME OUT FOR ANOTHER WELCOME 3 POINTS

BRENTWOOD TRAVELLED TO THE BILLY NEILL PITCHES ON SATURDAY TO TAKE ON 1 OF THIS SEASONS FAVOURITES MOAT PARK AND CAME AWAY WITH AN IMPRESSIVE AND VERY HARD EARNED 3-0 VICTORY. THE FIRST HALF WAS PRETTY EVEN WITH VERY LITTLE OPENINGS AT EITHER END WITH THE AWAY KEEPER NOT BEING FORCED INTO ANY SAVES OF NOTE NOT THAT M/PARKS KEEPER HAD MUCH DO EITHER AS THE GAME TURNED INTO A MIDFIELD BATTLE AND BOTH TEAMS WERE GUILTY OF WASTING THEIR FINAL BALL WHEN IN GOOD WIDE POSITIONS AND IT WAS NO SUPRISE THAT THE FIRST GOAL CAME FROM A PENALTY AS LITTLE ELSE WAS ON OFFER FROM OPEN PLAY AND AFTER HULBERT HAD BEEN FOULED FROM BEHIND JONNY TATE STEPPED UP TO CALMLY STROKE HOME FOR 1-0, MOAT PARK PUSHED HARD AFTER THAT BUT KEPT RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS IN THE LAST THIRD OF THE PITCH, BRENTWOOD ALMOST DOUBLED THEIR LEAD WHEN HULBERT PLAYED A GREAT BALL TO THE FAR POST TO DORRIAN WHOS HEADER LOOKED TO HEADINF FOR THE TOP CORNER ONLY TO TIPPED AWAY FOR A CORNER HT 1-0

THE SECOND HALF NEVER REALLY GOT GOING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BUT WHEN JONNY ROY WAS INTRODUCED ONTO THE PITCH REPLACING DORRIAN HE FOUND THE NET WITHIN 2 MINUTES AFTER GREAT WORK ON THE LEFT WING ENDED WITH THE CROSS BEATING THE M/PARK DEFENCE AND ROY HAD A SIMPLE TAP IN FOR 2-0, MOAT PARK PUSHED VERY HARD TO TRY AND REDUCE THE DEFICIT BUT STILL FOUND IT HARD TO CREATE ANY REAL DANGER UNTIL THE FINAL 20 MINUTES WHEN THEY HAD A GREAT CHANCE WHEN THE BALL FELL NICELY AT THE BACK POST AND THEIR STRIKER RATTLED THE BALL OF THE BAR AND AWAY FOR A REAL LET OFF. AN EVEN BIGGER LET OFF WAS TO FOLLOW WHEN MOAT PK WERE AWARDED A PENALTY BUT THE TAKER HELD HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS AFTER SENDING THE BALL VERY HIGH AND WIDE. BRENTWOOD WERE ON THE BACKFOOT AT THIS STAGE BUT WITH BIRCH AND McGIVERN CONTROLLING THE BACK LINE WELL CONTINED TO LIMIT MOATS CHANCES TO MOSTLY LONG RANGE EFFORTS ALTHOUGH THEY WERE UNLUCKY WHEN THEY HIT THE BAR FOR A SECOND TIME AFTER A 25 YARDER LEFT THE BRENTWOOD KEEPER STRANDED. BRENTWOOD HOWEVER WERE STILL CAUSING THE ODD PROBLEM OF THEIR OWN FOR THE HOME SIDE AND LYTTLE SHOULD HAVE ADDED A THIRD WHEN CLEAN THROUGH BUT TRIED TO LOB THE KEEPER INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING HIS FOOT THROUGH IT AND THE CHANCE WAS GONE THEN TATE SAW A GREAT EFFORT GO JUST OVER FROM 25 YARDS, MOAT HAD 1 MORE BIG CHANCE WHEN THEIR FRONTMAN FORCED GORDON IN GOALS INTO A GREAT SAVE HEADING DOWNWARDS FROM 6 YARDS ,MOAT WERE LEFT TO RUE THAT MISSED OPPORTUNITY 2 MINUTES LATER WHEN WHITE COLLECTED THE BALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK BEATING 2 PLAYERS AND PLAYING THE BALL TO McDOWELL WHO PLAYED IT INTO ROY AND AFTER A NEAT PASS TO LYTLLE HE RECIEVED IT BACK AND RAN THROUGH TO DRILL HOME FOR 3-0 AND A VERY HARD EARNED WIN . ALL IN ALL A TOUGH GAME AGAINST A GOOD MOAT PARK TEAM WHO WILL BE UP THERE COME THE END OF THE SEASON

Saturday 26th September - Down Area Premier

Brentwood 4:1 3rd Bangor OB

Brentwood began the match positively taking the game to their opponents and
producing some excellent spells of football.  On 14 minutes David Campbell ,
who tormented the Bangor defence throughout the game, beat 3 players before
passing to Jason Johnston whose deep cross was met superbly by Andrew Massey
to open the scoring. 

Bangor rarely troubled Craig Robson in goal with the exception of a
deflected free kick when he showed all his prowess to palm the ball to
safety. 

Brentwood continued to forge forward with David Campbell, Phillip Eccles and
Darren Kincaid all coming close to adding to the scoreline.
On 32 minutes the energetic Mark Liddell fed David Campbell who ghosted past
the defender only to be brought down in the box, Jason Johnston calmly
slotted home the penalty.

On 38 minutes a short corner allowed David Campbell to unleash a goal ward
bound drive that was deflected into the net by Darren Kincaid for his second
goal in two matches.

In the second half Brentwood seemed to be content with the scoreline,
instead of having the desire to go on and comprehensively win the match.
Both teams rarely troubled the opposing goal keepers until in the 75th
minute the inspirational David Campbell flicked the ball over two defenders
heads and as he went to shoot he was brought down, again Jason Johnston
slotted home the resulting penalty.

Nearing the end of the game 3rd Bangor did create some chances but William
Sproule remained commanding trying to protect a clean sheet.  Unfortunately
this was scuppered in the final minutes when 3rd Bangor scored from a deep
cross that should have been defended better to leave the final score 4-1.

BRENTWOOD 2NDS PUT IN A GREAT TEAM PERFORMANCE TODAY AGAINST A VERY DETERMINED CORRYMEELA SUPERBLY MARSHALLED BY BIRCH AND McGIVERN IN THE CENTRE OF DEFENCE ALONG WITH SMYTH AND FLYNN . BRENTWOOD ALWAYS LOOKED THE MORE LIKELY TO SCORE DURING THE 90 MINUTES AND THE FIRST CAME AFTER 23 MINUTES WHEN JONNY ROY SLAMMED INTO THE NET FROM 15 YARDS AFTER SAMMY LYTTLE HAD A CHASED DOWN WHAT LOOKED LIKE A LOST CAUSE AND WON THE BALL AND BEAT ONE DEFENDER LEAVING ROY TO FINISH. NOT A VERY EXCITING GAME BUT PLENTY OF EFFORT FROM BOTH SIDES SAW SOME TASTY CHALLENGES GOING IN AND AT TIMES HANDBAGS WERE SEEN FLYING AROUND ,THE HOME TEAM HAD THE BEST OF THE REMAINING CHANCES IN THE 1ST HALF ,ALAN KELLY HAVING 2 OR 3 EFFORTS AND SOME POOR FINISHING FROM OTHERS KEEPING THE SCORE 1-0 AT THE BREAK. THE SECOND HALF WAS CONTINUING IN THE SAME MANNER AND IT WAS 2-0 15 MINUTES IN AFTER LYTTLE WAS PUSHED IN THE PENALTY AREA AND TATE SCORED FROM THE SPOT. TATE THEN CAME OFF INJURED AND WITH NO SUBS LEFT BRENTWOOD WERE DOWN TO 10 MEN. CORRYMEELA BEGAN TO PUSH FORWARD LEAVING 3 AT THE BACK TO TRY AND CAPITALISE ON THE EXTRA MAN BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD PLENTY OF THE BALL THEY NEVER REALLY LOOKED LIKE SCORING AS ALL THEIR EFFORTS CAME FROM LONG RANGE AND GORDON IN GOAL WAS NEVER TROUBLED. BRENTWOOD HELD ON TO SECURE ANOTHER 3 POINTS AND STAY TOP ON GOAL DIFFERENCE AND THE WHOLE TEAM DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE EFFORT AND COMMITMENT ALSO THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR CORRYMEELA AS THEY PUT IN A GREAT EFFORT BUT BRENTWOOD SEEMED TO HAVE THAT BIT MORE QUALITY IN CERTAIN AREAS

BRENTWOOD 2NDS BRIGHT START TO THEIR  LEAGUE CAMPAIGN CONTINUED WITH GREAT VICTORY AGAINST AGAPE ON SATURDAY . WITH 4 REGULARS MISSING WHICH INCLUDED THE GOALKEEPER BRENTWOOD HAD TO RESHUFFLE AND PLAY A FEW PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION INCLUDING NOBLE TAKING ON THE ROLE OF GOALKEEPER . THE AWAY SIDE HOWEVER STARTED VERY BRIGHTLY PASSING THE BALL ALL ROUND THE PITCH AND STRETCHING THE HOME TEAM AND AFTER ONLY 3 MINUTES TOOK THE LEAD WHEN HULBERT RECIEVED THE BALL OUT ON THE LEFT , HE TOOK ONE LOOK UP AND PLACED THE BALL HIGH OVER THE ADVANCED KEEPER FOR 1-0 , BRENTWOOD CONTINUED TO PRESS HARD WHILST PLAYING SOME NEAT AND TIDY FOOTBALL LOOKING DANGEROUS EVERY TIME THEY ATTACKED AND THEY DOUBLED THEIR LEAD WHEN A FINE PASS WAS MET BY JONNY ROY WHO COOLY BEAT 3 PLAYERS WITH EASE TO SLAM THE BALL INTO THE NET FOR 2-0 , THE GAME QUIETENED DOWN FOR A WHILE AFTER THAT BEFORE HULBERT WENT RACING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK UNCHALLENGED AND PLACED THE BALL LOW INTO THE CORNER FROM 25 YARDS OUT TO PUT BRENTWOOD 3 UP. AGAPE DIDNT DROP THEIR HEADS AND KEPT BATTLING AND WERE AWARDED A PENALTY AFTER NOBLE NEEDLESSLY PULLED DOWN THEIR STRIKER AFTER THE BALL HAD GONE TO SAFETY AND HE CALMLEY SCORED TO PULL ONE BACK. TEN MINUTES LATER IT WAS 2-3 WHEN AN AGAPE PLAYER WAS ALLOWED TO RUN AT GOAL AND TRIED HIS LUCK FROM 20 YARDS PUTTING THE BALL I=FIRMLY IN THE CORNER AND IT WAS GAME ON. BRENTWOOD STARTED TO ATTACK AGAIN BUT WITHOUT CAUSING TO MUCH DANGER AND WERE LUCKY TO STILL BE IN FRONT AFTER FLYNN TRIPPED WHEN TRYING TO CLEAR THE BALL DURING AN AGAPE COUNTER ATTACK AND WITH 3 ON 1 AT THE BACK IT LOOKED ODDS ON FOR 3-3 BUTTHAY SOMEHOW MANAGED TO WASTE THE CHANCE AND BRENTWOOD BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF. JUST BEFORE HALF TIME GOOD WORK BY ROY SAW THE BALL REACHING THE BACK POST BUT AS THE DEFENDER TRIED TO HOOK THE BALL AWAY HE MANAGED ONLY TO HOOK IT OVER HIS OWN KEEPER FOR AN OWN GOAL AND AT THE BREAK IT WAS 4-2 . BRENTWOODS MANAGMENT HAD A FEW WORDS TO SAY AT THE INTERVAL ABOUT KEEPING CONCENTRATION AND ATTITUDE WHICH SEEMED TO WORK AS THEY SOON GOT A 5TH WHEN McGIVERN HEADED POWERFULLY HIGH INTO THE NET FROM A TATE CORNER AND WITH THAT AGAPES CHALLENGE FADED AND THAY WERE REDUCED TO ONLY A FEW LONG RANGE EFFORTS FOR THE NEXT HALF HOUR OR SO AS BRENTWOOD BEGAN TO KNOCK THE BALL AROUND AGAIN MAKING THEIR OPPONENTS DO ALOT OF CHASING . WHAT FOLLOWED IS NOT OFTEN SEEN AS 3 PENALTIES WERE AWARDED TO THE AWAY SIDE INT THE SPACE OF 13 MINUTESALL OF WHICH WERE NAILED ON AND HAD NO COMPLAINTS FROM AGAPE THE 1ST WAS EXPERTLY FINISHED AS USUAL BY JONNY TATE HOWEVER THE 2ND HIT BY NOBLE AGAINST THE MANAGERS WISHES WAS EASILY SAVED BUT WHEN THE 3RD ARRIVED THE MANAGER MADE IT CLEAR THAT TATE WAS TAKING THIS ONE AND AGAIN HE FINISHED FOR 7-2 WITH 10 MINUTES LEFT NOBLE IN GOALS HAD THE BALL AT HIS FEET AND LOADS OF TIME BUT TRIED TO BE SMART AND BEAT THEIR STRIKER ONLY TO LOSE THE BALL AND CONCEED A 3RD .SO IT WAS LEFT TO DEAN RUSSELL TO HAVE THE FINAL SAY WHEN THE BALL FELL TO HIM 25 YARDS OUT AFTER A FINE EFFORT BY HODGSON AND DANNY SMYTH TO WIN THE BALL BACK HE UNLEASHED AN UNSTOPPABLE EFFORT HIGH INTO THE ROOF OF THE NET TO LEAVE A FINAL SCORE OF 8-3. CREDIT TO THE BOYS WHO CAME IN AT LATE NOTICE ESPECIALLY THE DEFENCE WHO COULD NOT BE BLAMED REALLY FOR 2 OF THE 3 CONCEEDED AND ALSO CREDIT TO AGAPE WHO NEVER STOPPED TRYING ALL AFTERNOON . TOP PLAYERS BIRCH,HULBERT,McGIVERN AND NIGEL SMYTH

Brentwood 2 Corrymeela 1

MASSEY DOUBLE SECURES WIN

Brentwood began the match very brightly taking control of the midfield and playing some attractive football.  This paid dividends on 10 minutes when a shot from David Campbell fell to Andrew Massey who cheekily back heeled the ball into the net.  Brentwood’s defence remained mainly untroubled as the team continued to dominate proceedings, on 30 minutes ex Irish League star Andrew Massey doubled the lead with a powerful header from a pin point Marty Currie corner.  The half time interval saw Brentwood leading 2-0 following impressive performances from Mark Liddell, Andrew Massey and Phillip Eccles another ex Irish League player who was making his Brentwood debut.

 The second half began with Corrymeela taking the game to Brentwood.  Long balls from the defence coupled with good movement from their forwards saw them create a series of chances.  This pressure ultimately paid off when some slack marking in wide areas brought Corrymeela back into the game.  Disappointingly, Brentwood created few scoring opportunities  in the second half with man of the match Andrew Massey squandering a chance to complete his hat trick and some long range efforts from Peter Fry failing to trouble the goalkeeper.  With Corrymeela being wasteful in front of net and some great defending from William Sproule, Brentwood hung on to win 2-1.  

 Brentwood will be holding a fund raising event ‘Night At The Races’ at The Railway Bar on Saturday 26^th September, horses can be purchased from any committee member and everyone attending the event will be made most welcome.

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Brentwood began the game in a very lackadaisical way, especially defensively and were punished for this falling behind within the first 10 minutes.

As the first half progressed Brentwood tried to stamp their authority on the game but the Bangor Rangers defence easily dealt with the few chances that were created.

 In the second half Brentwood began to dictate the play and this paid dividends when Jason Johnston headed back across the six yard line for the man of the match, Peter Fry to score from close range.  During the last 20 minutes Brentwood created numerous chances with David Campbell going close on a few occasions.  Failure to convert these chances resulted in the game finishing 1-1 with Bangor Rangers earning a deserved point.

THE 2NDS OPENED THEIR LEAGUE CAMPAIGN WITH A 6-4 WIN VERSUS VISION ON SATURDAY. THEY MADE HARD WORK OF IT FOR THEMSELVES AFTER LETTING VISION BACK INTO THE GAME WHEN THEY LOOKED TO HAVE IT WRAPPED UP AT 6-2 THE TEAM SWITCHED OFF AND GAVE TO MUCH ROOM FOR VISION TO PLAY AND COULD HAVE PAID THE PRICE. BRENTWOOD TOOK THE LEAD AFTER ONLY 4 MINUTES WHEN A CORNER FROM THE RIGHT WAS PUSHED UP INTO THE AIR BY THE KEEPER ONLY FOR CAPTAIN DEREK BIRCH TO REACT FIRST TO HEAD HOME FOR 1-0 HOWEVER VISION WENT STRAIGHT UP THE PITCH AND EQUALISED AFTER POOR DEFENDING LET THEIR WINGER RUN IN FROM THE LEFT AND SMASH THE BALL HOME FROM A TIGHT ANGLE FOR 1-1 BRENTWWOODS DEFENCE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE EARLY ON AND IT WAS NO SUPRISE REALLY WHEN VISION TOOK THE LEAD AFTER 10 MINS ANOTHER AVOIDABLE GOAL WHICH STARTED WITH THE HOME TEAM IN POSSESSION OF THE BALL BUT A TERRIBLE PASS GAVE THIER STRIKER A CHANCE TO BEAT 1 DEFENDER BEFORE FINISHING WELL FROM 15 YARDS . GRADUALLY BRENTWOOD GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND SOME GREAT PLAY FROM BIRCH , FLYNN AND TATE SET UP SOME GREAT CGANCES FOR ALAN KELLY IN HIS FIRST MATCH BACK AFTER A LONG INJURY OF NEARLY 3 YEARS BUT SOME DECENT SAVES KEPT HIM AT BAY,

VISION WENT DOWN TO 10 MEN AFTER THEIR LEFT WINGER WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN COLLAR BONE BUT AS THEY HAD NO SUBS THIS GAVE BRENTWOOD A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO CAPITALISE ON THE ADVANTAGE OF AN EXTRA MAN . THE CERTAINLY DID THIS  AS IN THE REMAINING 23 MINUTES OF THE HALF ALAN KELLY GRABBED A HAT TRICK THE 1ST AFTER A GREAT THROUGH BALL FROM ROY PUT HIM CLEAN THROUGH AND HE EASILY BEAT THE KEEPER, THE 2ND WAS THE BEST OF THEM ALL A SUPER MOVE DOWN THE RIGHT INVOLVING 4 PLAYERS FINISHED WITH JONNY TATE WHIPPING A SUPERB BALL TO THE BACK POST AND KELLY ROSE HIGH TO HEAD HOME BRILLIANTLY, DEAN RUSSELL SET UP HIS 3RD CATCHING THE DEFENCE SQUARE AND ALAN HAD ANOTHER SIMPLE FINISH TO LEAVE THE HT SCORE 4-2. THE 2ND HALF STARTED WITH BOTH TEAMS CREATING MORE CHANCES BUT SOME TERRIBLE FINISHING KEPT THE SCORE THE SAME UNTIL DEAN RUSSEL FOUND HIMSELF UNMARKED 25 YARD OUT AND HIT THE TOP CORNER AFTER SPOTTING THE KEEPER OF HIS LINE. A GOAL MOUTH SCRAMBLE ENDED WITH NOBLE SMASHING IN THE 6TH AND THE GAME LOOKED OVER BUT VISION DIDNT GIVE UP AND KEPT BATTLING AWAY AND GOT THEIR REWARD AFTER JONNY ROY CONCEEDED A PENALTY FOR 6-3 , BRENTWOOD HAD GOT THEMSELVES INTO A LULL NOW WHICH THEY WERE FINDING HARD TO SHAKE OFF AND PANIC SET IN WHEN FLYNN WAS CAUGHT NAPPING AT THE BACK LEAVING THE VISION FRONT MAN A FREE RUN FOR 6-4 EVENTUALLY THOUGH B/WOOD STARTED TO STEM THE FLOW A LITTLE AND SHOULD HAVE KILLED THE GAME OFF WITH SEVERAL GLARING MISSES UP AT THE OTHER END VISION HAD 1 MORE GREAT CHANCE TO SCORE BUT  FOR A GREAT SAVE FROM STEPHEN GORDON .    A GOOD WIN AND GOOD FIRST HALF DISPLAY BUT WOEFUL IN THE SECOND HALF A LESSON TO BE LEARNED ABOUT COMPLACENCY - TOP PLAYERS BIRCH AND ALAN KELLY

BRENTWOOD LOST OUT IN THE 1ST ROUND OF THE ARDS BOROUGH CUP ON MONDAY NIGHT BUT CAN ONLY BLAME THEMSELVES FOR NOT GOING THROUGH AFTER MISSING SOME GUILT EDGE CHANCES TO FINISH THE GAME OF AFTER GOOD WORK FROM LIDDELL GIVE THEM THE LEAD WITH 20 MINUTES TO GO .

THE OPENING 20 WERE BOSSED BY KIRCUBBIN AS BRENTWOOD FOUND IT HARD TO GET A GRIP ON THE GAME ALTHOUGH THE 2B AMATEUR LEAGUE SIDE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO BREACH THE BWOOD DEFENCE AND DIDNT CREATTE TO MANY PROBLEMS FOR THE KEEPER. THE GAME WAS TAKING SOME TIME TO LIVEN UP AND IT WASNT UNTIL A KIRCUBBIN PLAYER NEARLY CUT JASON JOHNSTON IN TWO NEARLY STARTING A FREE FOR ALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PITCH THAT A BIT OF BITE WAS ADDED TO THE GAME, IT WASNT LONG BEFORE A FEW MORE MEATY TACKLES CAME ALONG WITH JOHN JOHNSTON RECIEVING A YELLOW FOR A WILD LUNGE SOON AFTER. PLAYERS ON BOTH SIDES WERE STARTING TO TIRE AS THE GAME WORE ON WITHOUT TO MANY GOAL MOUTH INCIDENTS BUT WHEN LIDDELL RECIEVED THE BALL ON THE LEFT HE EVADED THE ATTENTION OF ONE KIRCUBBIN DEFENDER BEFORE DRAWING THE KEEPER AND POKING THE BALL INTO THE FAR CORNER. ONLY MINUTES LATER AND BRENTWOOD REALLY SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THE GAME OF WHEN BRIAN ROBSON FOUND HIMSELF FREE ONLY 6 YARDS OUT BUT HIT THE BALL STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER WHEN IT LOOKED EASIER TO SCORE , FROM THE RESULTING CORNER THE BALL WAS CLEARED OF THE LINE AND FELL TO WHITE BUT HE COULDNT GET ENOUGH ON THE BALL AND THE BALL CLEARED UP FIELD FAST BY KIRCUBBIN AND SOME NEAT PLAY GAVE THEIR STRIKER A FREE RUN AT GOAL WITH BRENTWOOD STRUGGLING TO GET BACK IN POSITION AND HE MADE NO MISTAKE TO MAKE IT 1-1. BOTH TEAMS KEPT WORKING HARD RIGHT UP TO THE 90 BUT NO MORE GOALS FOLLOWED UNTIL EXTRA TIME . BRENTWOOD CREATED A FEW MORE GOOD CHANCES DURING THE EXTRA PERIOD MOST NOTICABLY RYAN McGIVERN GETTING THE BALL STUCK BETWEEN HIS LEGS RIGHT ON THE LINE AFTER A GREAT BUILD UP WHICH WOULD HAVE CAPPED A FINE PERFORMANCE FROM THE BIG LAD . KIRCUBBIN HOWEVER WERE ALWAYS IN THE GAME AND PLAYED SOME NICE STUFF THEMSELVES WITH THE TWO STRIKERS ESPECIALLY CONSTANTLY KEEPING THE BRENTWOOD DEFENCE ON THEIR TOES. IN THE 2ND PERIOD OF EXTRA TIME KIRCUBBIN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A SENDING OFF FOR BRENTWOOD AND TOOK THE LEAD AFTER THE BALL FELL NICELY FOR THEM IN THE PENALTY AREA . BRENTWOOD KEPT PUSHING HARD AND WERE UNLUCKY ON A FEW OCCASIONS NOT T0 FIND THE EQUALISER , THEY DID EVENTUALLY FIND A 2ND GOAL BUT ONLY AFTER KIRCUBBIN HAD ADDED A THIRD IN THE DYING MINUTES WITH BWOOD PUSHING UP THEIR FORWARD WAS LEFT WITH ONLY THE KEEPER TO BEAT AND HE DID SO EASILY

A GOOD WORKOUT FOR THE LADS AND A FEW SORE LEGS I SUSPECT IN THE MORNING FOR A FEW PLAYERS BUT THE LADS WHO CAME IN TO REPLACE THE MISSING ONES PERFORMED WELL AND I DONT THINK THE MANAGER COULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EFFORT FROM HIS TEAM

                                     1ST TEAM

MANAGERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR - JASON JOHNSTON

PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR     - RAB WHITE/BRENDAN FLYN

TOP GOALSCORER                       - STUART McLEAN 35

                                     2ND TEAM

MANAGERS POY              - STUART BEATTIE

PLAYERS POY                  - STUART BEATTIE

TOP GOALSCORER           - STUART BEATTIE

CLUB MAN OF THE YEAR    - JASON JOHNSTON

A SPECIAL THANKYOU GOES OUT TO THE LATE FRANKIE MOORES WIFE MARLENE AND FAMILY FOR ATTENDING THE GREAT NIGHT HAD BY ALL AND ALSO PRESENTING THE AWARDS

At the start of Season 2008/09, the Committee discussed the possibility of bringing more teams into the league and introducing an additional division.

This year has been a transitional one for the league with several changes of postholders and the Committee felt that this was not a good time to expand the league further.

The decision of the Committee is that the league structure will remain the same and that no new clubs will be admitted to the league unless a vacancy is created by the loss of any of the current member clubs. There are no such vacancies at present.

Clubs who have made contact officially with the League Secretary have been sent an acknowledgement and the League Committee would like to thank them for their interest.

BRENTWOOD 2NDS 1 V 2 ROSEMOUNT 2NDS  RESERVE TEAM CUP ROUND 1

THE SECONDS WERE OUSTED FROM THE CUP AT THE FIRST HURDLE ON TUESDAY NIGHT IN A VERY IGHT GAE AGAINST ROSEMOUNT . THE AWAY SIDE STARTED VEY WELL NOT ALLOWING BRENTWOOD ANY TIME TO SETTLE FOR THE FIRS 25 MINUTES THEY PLAYED ALL THE FOOTBALL CREATED ALL THE CHANCES AND WERE BETTER IN EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT.AND THEDESERVEDLY TOOK THE LEAD AFTER 18 MINUTES FROM A LONG RANGE FREEKICK WHICH McLEAN JUST FAILED TO MEET. BRENTWOOD EVENTUALLY FOUND THEIR FET AND STARTED TO MAKE SOME INROADS TO THE R/MOUNT GOAL AND AFTER MAINE WAS PUT THROUGH THE AWAY KEEPER BROUGHT HIM DOWN ON THE EDGE OF THE BOX EARNING HIMSELF A BOOKING THE RESULTING FREEKICK FROM JONNY TATE SMASHED OFF THE BAR AND AWAY TO SAFETY . BOTH TEAMS WERE BATTLING HARD AT THIS STAGE AND ALTHOUGH LITTLE FOOTBALL WAS ON OFFER PLENTY OF EFFORT WAS ON SHOW, HT 0-1

THE SECOND HALF SAW BRENTWOOD HAVE A SLIGHT UPPERHAND FOR THE MOST PART ALTHOUGH NOT MANY CHANCES WERE ON OFFER BOTH TEAMS HAD LONG RANGE EFFORTS EASILY DEALT WITH.BRENTWOOD EQUALISED AFTER A FREEKICK WAS PUMPED INTO TE BACK POST AND BEATTIE BRILLANTLY HEADED THE BALL OVER THE KEEPER INTO THE FAR CORNER FRON A TIGHT ANGLE. BUT WITH 15 MINUTES LEFT DISASTER STRUCK INTHE HEART OF THE BRENTWOOD DEFENCE WHEN THE BALL FELL TO TATE WHO GOT THE BALL STUCK UNDER HIS FEET HE COULDNT GET IT WAY QUICK ENOUGH AND THE R/MOUNT MIDFIELDER POKED HOME FOR 2-1 .THE HOME SIDE PUSHED HARD OOKING TO LEVEL AND CAME CLOSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FIRST A FREE DELIVERED FROM TATE CAUSED CONFUSION CAUSING ROSEMOUNT TO NEARLY PUT INTO THEIR OWN NET , SOON AFTER THEY HAD A GOAL DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE A STRONG SHOT FROM THE EDGE OF THE BOX FROM SMITH WAS SPILLED BY THEKEEPER AND BEATTIE FIRED HOME BUT THE REF ADJUDGED HIM TO BE OFFSIDE WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE RIGHT DECISION. SMITH AGAIN HAD ANOTHER CHANCE BUT THE BALL FELL SLIGHTLY BEHIND HIM AND HE COULD ONLY HOOK OVER THE BAR , SUBSTITUTE JURAD HAD ADDED PLENTY OF PACE AND HIS EFFORT IN THE DYING MOMENTS FROM 35 YARDS CERTAINLY HAD PACE AS IT CRASHED OF THE BAR WITH THE KEEPER STRANDED HOWEVER ROSEMOUNT HELD ON FOR THE WIN

BALLYGOWAN 1 V 0 BRENTWOOD   -- SITTLINGTON CUP QUARTER FINAL                              

THE 1STS ALSO CRASHED OUT OF THE CUP ON THURSDAY AGAINST A VERY DETERMINED BALLYGOWAN ,BRENTWOOD HAD THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BALL AND CHANCES BUT ON A LACKLUSTRE NIGHT THEY DIDNT LOOK SHARP OR HUNGRY ENOUGH TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES AND IT WASNT UNTIL THE FINAL 15 OR 20 MINUTES THAT THEY CAUSED ANY REAL DANGER ,BALLYGOWAN ALWAYS LOOKED THE HUNGRIER AND FOR THAT REASON PROBABLY DESERVED THEIR WIN AS THEY TOOK THEIR CHANCE AND WORKED TREMENDOUSLY HARD FOR EACH OTHER SPURRED ON BY THEIR VERY VOCAL SUPPORT , IT COULD BE SAID THAT THE AWFUL PITCH DIDNT HELP THE AWAY SIDES PASSING GAME FORCING THEM INTO A LONG BALL GAME BUT THE HOME SIDE HAVENT PLAYED THERE MUCH EITHER THIS SEASON SO THEY TOO WERE AFFECTED BY IT I PRESUME. HOPEFULLY A FULL REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

BRENTWOOD TOOK ON A VISION SELECT SIDE ON SATURDAY WINNING 4-2 , THE BRENTWOOD SELECT SIDE ACTUALLY CONSISTED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF SECOND TEAM PLAYERS THE EXCEPTIONS BEING JASON JOHNSTONE AND DERECK BIRCH. IN TRUTH IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP 7 -7 OR EVEN MORE WITH BOTH TEAMS ESPECIALLY VISION COMING VERY CLOSE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS VISION ACTALLY HIT THE WOODWORK 4 TIMES AND PLAYED SOME NEAT PASSING FOOTBALL BUT BRENTWOOD PLAYED SOME NICE STUF AT TIMES AS WELL AND TOOK THEIR CHANCES WELL WITH CHRIS MAINE GRABBING 2 FOLLOWED BY McELDREW AND TATE , A GOOD WORKOUT FOR BOTH SIDES AND WE WISH VISION ALL THE BEST FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON

AS FAR AS 1ST TEAM REPORTS ARE CONCERNED I HOPE TO HAVE THEM UP TO DATE VERY SOON WHICH WILL COVER THE 2-2 DRAW WITH ABBEY VILLA III AND THE 3-2 VICTORY VERSUS AGAPE SORRY FOR THE DELAY

A VERY DISAPPOINTING END TO THE LEAGUE SEASON FOR THE SECONDS FOLLOWING A SECOND HALF COLLAPSE AGAINST 10TH ON SATURDAY AFTER MORE THAN MATCHING THEM IN THE FIRST. A SCRAPPY OPENING PERIOD SAW BOTH SIDES EAGER NOT TO MAKE ANY MISTAKES AND VERY FEW CHANCES WERE CREATED EARLY ON BUT AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO BRENTWOOD HAD THE BALL IN THE NET THROUGH BEATTIE BUT IT WAS HARSHLY DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE EVEN THOUGH HE WAS CLEARLY 5 YARDS ON WHEN THE BALL WAS PLAYED ,10TH STARTED TO COME ON STRONG AFTER THIS AND TOOK THE LEAD FOLLOWING A FREEKICK WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY DEALT WITH BY SMITH IN NETS ONLY FOR HIM TO SPILL THE BALL AT THE FEET OF THEIR STRIKER WHO EASILY FINISHED BUT QUESTIONS MUST ALSO BE ASKED OF THE DEFENSIVE WALL WHO JUMPED OVER THE BALL WHEN IT WAS STRUCK AND ALSO TO STAND AND WATCH AS THEIR PLAYER RAN IN UNCHALLEGED TO SCORE. BRENTWOOD KEPT GOING AND AFTER WASTING A SERIES OF GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET CROSSES IN RUSSELL FOUND BEATTIES HEAD AND HE BEAT THE KEEPER TO THE BALL FOR 1-1 ,THE AWAY SIDES TAILS WERE UP NOW  AND ALL OF A SUDDEN 10TH WERE UNDER ALOT OF PRESSURE BUT BRENTWOOD COULDNT FINISH THE VARIOUS CHANCES THEY HAD NOT ONLY FROM OPEN PLAY BUT FROM FREEKICKS IN DANGEROUS AREAS THE BEST CHANCE CAME WHEN ANOTHER GOOD CROSS FROM RUSSELL FOUND LYTTLE WHO FLICKED OVER THE KEEPER AND JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO CELEBRATE A DEFENDER GOT BACK TO HEAD OF THE LINE . 2 MINUTES BEFORE HT BRENTWOOD PRESSED THE SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON WHEN A THROW IN FROM THE RIGHT WAS HEADED UP IN THE AIR ONLY FOR EVERY BWOOD PLAYER TO STAND AND WATCH AS A 10TH PLAYER GATHERED UNCHALLENGED YET AGAIN FOR A FREE SHOT WHICH EVEN THEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY SAVED ONLY FOR THE KEEPER TO DROP AT THE FEET OF THEIR STRIKER FOR A SECOND TIME AND HE WAS LEFT WITH ANOTHER EASY FINISH FOR 2-1 AT HALFTIME.  THE SECOND HALF SAW 10TH START VERY STRONG AND IT DIDNT TAKE LONG BEFORE THEY WERE 3-1 AHEAD AFTER THE DEFENSE WERE CAUGHT SQUARE AND WHEN THEIR PLAYER RAN FREE SMITH WAS UNLUCKY AS HE BEAT THEIR MAN TO THE BALL ONLY FOR IT TO CANNON OF HIS LEG AND INTO THE NET TO BE FAIR IT WAS NO MORE THAN 10TH DESERVED AND THEY CONTINUED TO DOMINATE THE SECOND HALF ADDING A PENALTY FOR 4-1 AND EVEN THOUGH BRENTWOOD GAVE THEMSELVES A LITTLE HOPE WHEN TATE ALSO SCORED FROM A PEN FOR 2-4 THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE ONE WINNER AS A COMBINATION OF BRENTWOOD COMMITING MEN FORWARD AND TIRED LEGS PRESENTED 10TH WITH ALL THE SPACE THEY COULD WANT AND IT WAS SOON 5 AFTER MORE DREADFUL DEFENDING FROM A CORNER SAW AN ANMARKED MAN EAD THE BALL BETWEEN 3 PLAYERS WHO JUST STOOD AND WATCHED ,BRENTWOOD DID CHALK UP 4 OR 5 DECENT CHANCES LATE ON BUT IT WAS TO BE THE HOME SIDE DAY AS THEY ADDED A 6TH LATE ON FOR A VERY DESERVED WIN . I WILL TAKE THIS CHANCE TO CONGRATULATE THEM S I CANT SEE THEM NOT WINNING AT LEAST 1 OF THEIR LAST 2 GAMES

THE FIRST GAME IN THE TOMMY MURPHY SHIELD SAW THE SECONDS WIN A PRETTY LOW KEY AFFAIR AGAINST WILLOWFIELD . BOTH SIDES WERE GREATLY UNDERSTRENGTH BECAUSE OF PLAYERS BEING CUP TIED BUT THE PLAYERS THAT CAME IN DID A GOOD JOB ESPECIALLY DANNY SMYTH PLAYING UP FRONT IN HIS FIRST GAME AT THIS LEVEL . THE FIRST HALF BRENTWOOD PLAYED AGAINST THE WIND BUT IN FACT WERE PROBABLY THE BETTER SIDE AS FAR AS CREATING CHANCES WENT WITH MICHAEL ADAMS MISSING THE BEST OF THEM AFTER A SUPER THROUGH BALL FROM DEAN RUSSELL PUT HIM CLEAR BUT HE SMASHED WIDE, MOST OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WERE HALF CHANCES COMING FROM LOOSE BALLS FROM CORNERS BUT NONE OF THE HOME SIDES PLAYERS WERE QUICK ENOUGH TO REACT AT THE OTHER END THE HOME DEFENCE EASILY DEALT WITH MOST OF WILLOWFIELDS ATTACKS WITH NO REAL THREAT BEING POSED TO McLEAN IN NETS . SMYTH WAS CAUSIN PROBLEMS FOR THE BIG AWAY DEFENCE AND MAD A GOOD CHANCE FOR HIMSELF AFTER 30 MINUTES BEATIN ONE PLAYER WITH EASE HE UNLEASHED A STRONG SHOT THAT LOOKED GOAL BOUND UNTIL A DEFENDER GOT A BLOCK ON IT ,BRENTWOOD WERE COMING ON STRONG COMING UP TO HALF TIME WITH SOME NEAT PASSING AND MOVING BUT THE END PRODUCT ELUDED THEM AND SO 0-0 IT WAS AT HALF TIME

WILLOWFIELD OPENED THE STRONGER IN THE SECOND HALF AND CAUSED SOME NERVOUS MOMENTS EARLY ON BUT BRENTWOOD SOON FOUND THEIR FEET AGAIN AND ANY CHANCES THAT ARRIVED WERE FALLING TO THE HOME TEAM TWO EASY HEADERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED OFF AT THE BACK POST AND SMYTH WAS VERY UNLUCKY WITH A STRONG VOLLEY THAT FIZZED JUST OVER THE BAR, DAVID McMURRY WAS BROUGHT INTO THE ACTION WITH 30 MINUTES LEFT AND THIS WERE BRENTWOOD BENEFITED FROM HIS LONG THROWS THAT HAVE DIVIDENDS SO MANY TIMES THIS SEASON SUDDENLY WILLOWFIELD WERE REALLY STARTING TO STRUGGLE WITH THESE LONG THROWS AND ONLY A COUPLE OF LAST DITCH CLEARANCES AND GOOD GOALKEEPING KEPT THE SCORES LEVEL. WILLOWFIELD WERE FAR FROM OUT OF THE GAME HOWEVER AND CONTINUED TO TRY FOR AN OPENING THEMSELVES BUT AS IN THE FIRST HALF STRUGGLED TO CREATE ANYTHING OF REAL NOTE. WITH 5 MINUTES REMAINING BRENTWOOD FINALLY BROKE THE DEADLOCK WHEN A LONG THROW WAS MET AT THE BACKPOST BY McBLAIN AND HE HEADED HIGH INTO THE NET FOR 1-0. WILLOWFIELD PUSHED FORWARD STRAIGHT AWAY TO TRY AND FORCE AN EQUALISER BUT LEFT SPACES AT THE BACK WHICH BRENTWOOD STARTED TO EXPOSE BUT THE FINAL BALL LET THEM DOWN ON MOST OCCASIONS BUT IN THE DYING MOMENTS CHRIS MAINE LATCHED ONTO A FLICK ON AND VOLLEYED HIGH INTO THE GOAL TO FINISH THE GAME OFF AND GIVE BRENTWOOD A WINNING START TO THEIR CAMPAIGN IN THE  SHIELD , ALL EYES ARE ON FIRMLY SET ON NEXT WEEKS FINAL LEAGUE GAME AGAINST 10TH OB ,SURELY THE TEAMS BIGGEST GAME IN THEIR HISTORY AS A WIN WOULD SEE THEM END THE SEASON AS CHAMPIONS WHICH WOULD BE A FANTASTIC FEAT

Brentwood Come Out On Top.
 
 With the two previous meetings having been so close (4-4aet in the cup and 1-1 in the last league meeting) the big question was-Could we have an outright winner this time?? With both teams having league and promotion ambitions, and also the fact Brentwood were hoping to keep their unbeaten home record in the league intact, it was all set for a cracker.
 In the opening stages both teams were looking determined and eager to make their mark-It wasn't long before the first goal of the day was on the board. Brentwood failed to deal with a corner properly and after a scramble in the box- Ravenhill who always look dangerous from set pieces, scored. With just 7mins gone it was far too early for the hosts to hit the panic button, and soon were creating chances off their own.
 On 20mins Brentwood had worked the ball forward, Stuart McLean, who was back in the starting line-up after being unavailable for the match against Agape, done well to get a cross into the box, and when it looked like a certain equaliser for the home side, Hulbert put his headed effort over the bar.
 There were good battles going on all over the park, and it seemed in the first half the Ravenhill middle pairing were causing a few problems, they were getting a bit more time than they should've. As always they were looking to feed the two RYM wide men, especially down the right to the impressive No.11. Flynn had to be aware on more than one occasion, considering the pace of the opposing winger he done well on most of his attacks.
 Ravenhill could've added to their score, every time they got a corner the Brentwood backline looked nervous, as they were aware of the aeriel threat, especially from front man Scates and central defender Legend5 (Jason). It was from a Ravenhill corner that Brentwood nearly got the equaliser, quick thinking by Robson in goal, gave them the chance, a long throw out to B.Robson in the middle was passed out to Johnston down the right, he sent in an inch perfect ball to McLean, however to the keepers relieve the striker   sent his header wide.
 It was the same two that the first Brentwood goal came from, on 40mins- Johnston who was revelling in the space he was given played a forward pass with pace onto Stuart McLean, with his back to goal ,and blocking the keepers view, he gave the ball the slightest of touches to knock it low and away from the keepers reach, a class goal and one which the home side thoroughly deserved.
 Just before the break Brentwood could've added another, from a Johnston corner, the ball fell to McGivern and somehow from 5yards out managed to put his shot high over the bar, the latter part of the half belonged to Brentwood and the half-time whistle came at the wrong time.   (half time 1-1)
 As the match restarted, the goal didn't seem to have bothered RYM too much both teams were still giving it their all, however Brentwood suffered a huge blow when their central defender McGivern, had to come off with what looked a bad injury (torn ligaments in his ankle the outcome) although he was looking to play on it was evident it was a bad one-he was replaced by Roy who was given the task off having to mark Scates.
 Brentwood kept pushing forward and from a Johnston free-kick the keeper was forced to make a smart save and put the ball over the bar. but it wasn't long before he was picking the ball from out of his net, again from Johnston-he swung in from a corner and there was Bartlett rising highest to put Brentwood into a 2-1 lead.
 With Curry having come of the bench and Hulbert taking Jest's place in the heart of the midfield, the home side started to look a bit more confident, however RYM got an equaliser- On 68mins Curry picked the ball up in the middle of the park and instead of playing the ball forward was caught in possession, the away side worked the ball forward and with players out of position the ball was in the back of the net.
 With just under 20mins left the game could've gone either way both teams trying to win and not settling for a point thankfully it was to be Brentwood that would get a third and winning goal-White had crossed from the right to the back post-the ball was picked up by top goal scorer McLean, he beat his man in the box, his initial shot was blocked, and when the ball spun up into the air he rose like a salmon to head the ball from 12 yards out over the helpless keeper and Brentwood had regained their lead. As the time counted down Brentwood as expected came under plenty of Ravenhill pressure-they had sent men forward and their big No.5 (Legend) was looking to cause a few problems, Barclay though marshaled the backline well and in the end the home side held on for a very important 3pts.
 
Team: C.Robson, White, Flynn, Hulbert, McGivern, Jest, Barclay(c), Bartlett, McLean, B.Robson, Johnston
 
Subs: Roy,(McGivern) Mayne,(n/u) Curry,(Jest)   
 
Manager's Views: A big 3pts for us today, we couldn't afford to loose to one of our closest rivals at this stage of the season, in saying that Ravenhill will feel they could've won it as well, I just think we had a wee bit more today, Jason Johnston was finding plenty of space and maybe if we could've found him more often-more chances would've been created. The whole team done their jobs-Barney had his hands full with the RYM No.11 and as always big McGivern handled Scatesy well-his injury puts a dampener on today's win-we all wish him a speedy recovery. Always good to see Stuart McLean up for matches and scoring, when he's in the mood not many can handle him (not even the Leg-end5), Good to see big Ricky back on the score sheet again aswell. Just a mention on the ever reliable Craig Robson, the big man wasn't 100% today, but you wouldn't have known another steady performance!!  Another tough test next week away to Abbey Villa here's hoping we go into this one with the same attitude and commitment

Back To Winning Ways!
 
After two draws on the spin, Brentwood travelled to Henry Jones-this time to take on an Agape team that still had high hopes for promotion. It was evident from the start that Agape were up for the match- Brentwood were too but they couldn't find the pace and tempo that had been shown in the previous game against Ravenhill YM
 Again the Brentwood management and players were concerned about the Henry Jones pitches being so small-(something that almost cost them against Stranmillis 37th just after Christmas) not suiting their system or game plan-however they stuck with it and gained their rewards.
 As mentioned above- Agape looked hungry, and were eager to get forward in the opening stages, they weren't letting the Brentwood team settle on the ball. Having made a few changes to the starting line-up (Phil Jest and Matt Hulbert coming into the midfield) Brentwood took a while to get into their rhythm. Gradually the work rate picked up and they were able to start pushing forward, it was Brentwood that took the lead- a long ball forward from the defence had Agape on the back foot and under pressure-a miss placed pass played by the Agape right back-was picked up by Curry just outside the 18 yard box-he took his time and picked his spot with a low hard drive beating and giving the keeper no chance. This settled Brentwood a bit but Agape weren't going to give up-and got their just rewards before the break- from a corner Brentwood were unable too clear, the ball fell to the Agape No.10 who seemed to have the freedom of Henry Jones, with no one near him he unleashed an unstoppable shot past a crowd of players and a despairing Robson. It must be said it was a well taken goal, but when a player has so much time in the box questions need to be asked.  (Half-time 1-1)
  Brentwood were told the truth at the half-time break-plain and simple-"It Wasn't Good Enough" The players themselves knew this and started the 2nd half with more determination, It wasn't long before they added a 2nd goal- good work from White down the wing seen the ball eventually arrive at Curry-again maybe this time with a bit of fortune the ball hit the back of the net. Brentwood were wanting more and stepped up the play-however they were dealt a blow, when their experienced midfielder Phil Jest-who was making an impressive first start for the 1st team this season had to be replaced after taking a knock to his eye.Curry was dropped back into midfield and young Chris Mayne went up top with the evergreen Robson.
 This didn't upset Brentwood too much they were getting more and more confident, the passing from the midfield of, Bartlett and Johnston was always looking to open and make opportunities for the front two. Indeed the lively Mayne was making life hard for the Agape back-line, and he was working well with Brian Robson. Mayne was unlucky on a couple of occasions, when with a bit of luck, could've found himself on the score sheet.
 However it was to be Brian Robson that would seal the victory for the away side with two very well taken goals.The first one was played through to him and under severe pressure from an Agape defender was able too get his shot away and into the net. It must be mentioned the Agape defender was lucky to stay on the pitch-with Robbo getting away from him a very poor and rash effort was made to get the ball(player)-but only a yellow was produced by the Ref.
 Robbo had the last laugh though when 5 mins later he added to his tally-again he raced through and beat the defence-it looked like he'd taken it too wide but again the effort hit the onion bag.
 With the game seemingly won Brentwood relaxed slightly-This gave Agape a glimmer of hope and when they started pouring men forward looking for goals, it wouldn't be long before they got one, thankfully for the away side it was too little too late-Brentwood in-fact could've added to their score-Noble who had moved off the bench was put through by Johnston- he was bearing down on the keeper and hit his shot powerfully enough-unfortunately it just went over the bar.That was to be the last attack, Brentwood had got what they came for against an Agape side that were determined and put plenty of effort in-3pts.
 
Team: C.Robson, White, Flynn, Hulbert, McGivern, Jest, Barclay(c), Bartlett, Curry, B.Robson, Johnston
 
Subs: McAnally(n/u) Noble(B.Robson) Mayne(Jest)
 
Manager's Views: Very happy getting 3pts from this match against a tricky Agape side- after the two draws it was important to get back winning. A slow start compared to last week but we stuck to our task and every player done their jobs-good performances from Ricky Bartlett and Robert White especially in the first half, 2nd half the back-line looked a lot more organised with Gary Barclay taking control, and Barney Flynn not letting much get past him. Just a mention on Phil Jest 100% effort and commitment and also great to see Brian Robson get 2 goals he works hard every week and doesn't always get the luck. With Jason Johnston always looking to create chances hopefully we can keep adding to our goals for column.
 

ALL OF A SUDDEN BRENTWOOD ARE BACK IN CONTENTION FOR LEAGUE HONOURS AFTER THIS HARD FOUGHT WIN TODAY V BALLYGOWAN AND WITH THE NEWS THAT 10TH OB AND 3RD BANGOR BOTH LOST THINGS ARE LOOKING ALOT BETTER. THE FIRST HALF WAS A TIGHT AFFAIR WITH BOTH TEAMS BATTLING HARD BUT NOT MUCH FOOTBALL WAS PLAYED , BRENTWOOD STARTED AT A HIGH TEMPO BUT BALLYGOWANS BIG DEFENCE HELD FIRM ON MOST OCCASIONS DEALING WITH THE AERIAL THREAT FROM LONG THROWS AND COUNTLESS CORNERS FOR BRENTWOOD ,ON THE FEW OCCASIONS THAT THE BALL WASNT MET FROM A VISITING PLAYER NO ONE WAS ON HAND TO FINISH OF THE LOOSE BALL, AT THE OTHER END BALLYGOWANS BEST EFFORTS WERE COMING FROM COUNTER ATTACKS WHICH CAUSED A FEW NERVOUS MOMENTS FOR THE HOME SIDE . NEITHER KEEPER HAD MADE A SAVE OF REAL NOTE COMING UP TO THE HALF HOUR MARK AS BALLYGOWAN BROKE THE DEADLOCK THE BALL WASNT DEALT WITH IN THE HOME PENALTY AREA AND WHEN HIS FIRST EFFORT WAS TIPPED ONTO THE BAR THE REBOUND WAS SMASHED HOME BY THE LANKY B/GOWAN MIDFIELDER FROM 10 YARDS OUT. BRENTWOOD DIDNT DROP THEIR HEADS AND KEPT PLUCKING AWAY AND ALMOST EQUALISED STRAIGHT AWAY FROM TATE EFFORT. HT 0-1

THE SECOND HALF COULDNT HAVE STARTED ANY BETTER FOR THE HOME SIDE AS THEY SCORED TWICE IN THE SPACE OF 4 MINS BEATTIE GETTING THEM BOTH .THE FIRST CAME WHEN A HALF CLEARED BALL FROM A THROW WAS LOBBED BACK IN BY STEVEN McLEAN AND BEATTIE VOLLEYED HOME ON THE TURN FROM A VERY TIGHT ANGLE. THE SECOND CAME WHEN A GREAT FREEKICK FROM TATE WAS SWUNG IN AND BEATTIE HEADED HOME IN DEADLY FASHION FOR 2-1, BRENTWOOD WERE IN THE ASCENDANCY NOW AND EVEN AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF THE SECOND HALF THERE LOOKED LIKE ONLY ONE WINNER AS B/GOWAN WERE ROCKED BACK, THE HOME DEFENCE WERE DEALING EASILY WITH AWAY ATTACKS AND THE MIDFIELD AND FORWARDS WERE CREATING SOME GOOD CHANCES AND BEATTIE COULD HAVE HAD MORE BUT WAS UNLUCKY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN A SCRAMBLE IN THE BOX WAS CLEARED SUPPOSEDLY OF THE LINE BUT  LOOKED SUSPICIOUSLY OVER THE LINE BUT THE REF RULED AWAY GOAL CLAIMS. THE 3RD EVENTUALLY ARRIVED WHEN GOOD WORK FROM SMYTH SAW THE KEEPER FUMBLE HIS EFFORT ON GOAL AND BEATTIE WAS ON HAND TO EASILY FINISH FOR 3-1. APART FROM A COUPLE OF DANGEROUS ATTACKS FROM B/GOWAN ONE OF WHICH SMASHED OF THE FACE OF THE BAR BRENTWOOD WERE PRETTY COMFORTABLE UNTIL TERRIBLE DEFENDING FROM THEM LET THEIR FORWARD IN TO BANG IN THEIR SECOND WITH 6 MINS LEFT, PANIC COULD EASILY HAVE SET IN FOR THE FINAL FEW MINUTES BUT WHEN TATE FOUND CLELAND STRAIGHT FROM THE KICK OFF HE CROSSED FOR SMYTH WHO LAID THE BALL OF FOR McMURRAY WHO BEAT ONE PLAYER AND DROVE THE BALL INTO THE NET FROM 25 YARDS TO FINISH THE GAME OFF IN STYLE  --- FT 4-2                                                   SCORERS BEATTIE - 48-52-66 McMURRAY 86

BRENTWOOD FELL TO A DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT AT HOME TO BANGOR RGRS ON SATURDAY BUT WILL FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE CLAIMED AT LEAST A DRAW IF NOT ALL 3 POINTS .THE FIRST HALF SAW PLENTY OF CHANCES FOR BOTH TEAMS AND BUT FOR SOME COMICAL FINISHING THE SCORELINE COULD HAVE BEEN 3 OR 4 EACH BUT SOMEHOW BOTH TEAMS MANAGED TO WASTE EVERY CHANCE THAT CAME THEIR WAY ,IT WAS BRENTWOOD WHO MISSED TWO GREAT OPENINGS EARLY ON FIRST FROM MICHAEL ADAMS AFTER A LONG THROW REACHED HIM SIX YARDS OUT HE VOLLEYED OVER THEN STEVEN McLEAN HAD A SIMILAR CHANCE AFTER ANOTHER LONG THROW BUT TRIED TO BREAK THE NET INSTEAD OF PLACING THE BALL. BANGOR THEN MISSED THE CHANCE OF THE SEASON SOON AFTER WHEN THEIR STRIKER FOUND HIMSELF WITH A TAP IN FROM 3 YARDS WHICH HE TAMELY HIT AT PETER McLEAN IN NETS ONLY FOR HIM TO PARRY STRAIGHT BACK INTO THE STRIKERS FEET AND AGAIN HE HIT IT STRAIGHT AT THE KEEPER ,A BIG LET OFF INDEED 2 MINS LATER ADAMS HAD ANOTHER EFFORT BLOCKED FROM CLOSE RANGE BEFORE JONNY TATE HAD A FANTASTIC EFFORT WHICH BEAT THE KEEPER CAME DOWN OFF THE BAR AND LOOKED TO HAVE GONE OVER THE LINE BEFORE THE KEEPER COULD REACT BUT THE REFEREE RULED AGAINST, THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER GOOD CHANCE THIS TIME MAINE STRIKING THE POST FROM 7 YARDS WHEN PUT FREE . BANGOR HAD ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE TO TAKE THE LEAD WHEN A LOOSE BALL FELL TO THEIR SECOND STRIKER WHO LET THE BALL BOUNCE ONCE BEFORE BLAZING OVER FROM 10 YARDS WITH ONLY THE KEEPER TO BEAT. HT 0-0

THE SECOND HALF SAW BRENTWOOD COME ON VERY STRONG AND PUSH BANGOR BACK AGAIN HITTING THE WOODWORK AS WELL AS MISSING MORE EASY OPPOTUNITIES. THEY WERE MADE TO PAY WHEN A CORNER FOR BANGOR WAS HEADED HOME TO GIVE THEM THE LEAD THIS WAS ABOUT THE ONLY REAL CHANCE THEY HAD IN THE SECOND HALF AS BRENTWOOD PILED FORWARD LOOKING FOR A GOAL OF THEIR OWN ,MORE CHANCE CAME AND WENT WITH BEATTIE HEADING WIDE WHEN WELL PLACED AND THE KEEPER PULLING OF 2 WONDERFUL SAVES FROM TATE ,THE WOODWORK WAS HIT FOR A 4TH TIME LATE ON FOLLOWING A GOAL MOUTH SCRAMBLE HOWEVER BANGOR HELD ON AND HAVE TO BE CONGRATULATED ON THEIR EFFORTS AS THEY WORKED VERY HARD INDEED TO COLLECT THE 3 POINTS AND IF YOU DONT TAKE YOUR CHANCES THEN YOU DONT WIN SIMPLE AS THAT ,ITS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO WIN THE LEAGUE NOW BUT WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING

POINTS SHARED AT HENRY JONES
 
Brentwood had to settle for a point against fellow promotion hope-fulls Ravenhill YM. Again the two teams couldn't be separated a 1-1 draw was the end result and RYM"s unbeaten home run continues, although Brentwood will maybe feel they should and could've had all 3pts.
   The first half belonged to the away side-taking the game to RYM and putting them on the back foot.Brentwood were creating plenty of good openings and causing the home sides back line a few problems.
   Brentwood with skipper Gary Barclay moved to the back, Ricky Bartlett re-stored to the midfield and top goalscorer Stuarty McLean back in the starting line-up-the team had a more lively and stronger look to it. Early indications where showing that the front two of Brian Robson and Stuarty McLean could have some joy on the day. Indeed it was the latter that produced the best chance of the half-a deep throw into the box by McLean caused havoc in the RYM defence-Johnston was first to the ball with a header and met it well with power and direction-the effort looked goal-bound all the way only to cannon back of the post, fortunately for Johnston it fell right at his feet-somehow from 3 yards out the midfielder couldn't convert the chance!! (something to do with stretching and all the sand in the goalmouth!!)
   The only thing that seemed to be letting Brentwood down was their final ball-with the midfield of, Curry,Johnston and Bartlett always looking to go forward there should've been plenty of options, White with his surging runs down the right done well on a few occasions to get the ball in the box-but a lot of the time the man in possession was making the wrong decisions with his passes!! This was to prove costly.
   Brentwood had pretty much contained RYM into long range efforts and any joy they were getting seemed to be from set-pieces. however the experienced Craig Robson dealt comfortably with anything put his way.
   With 4mins left to half-time the dead-lock was broken and surprisingly it was Ravenhill that got the goal-Paul Scates their top scorer had pulled McGivern out of position and with this space left-- Rym played a ball over the top, Skipper Barclay looked favourite to win the ball first-however a moment of hesitancy let the Ravenhill forward nip in and head for goal-with Robson advancing of his line the young forward shot low to the keepers left and into the net.
   The goal obviously gave RYM a big lift and there were concerns that it could've damaged the Brentwood believe-this was short lived as once again they showed hunger and commitment, not letting their heads go down.
   This half was much more open-there was space for both teams to work in-Johnston was seeing more of the ball-always a good sign for Brentwood.Both teams had chances, but it was to be Brentwood that would make the most of theirs. McGivern who yet again had done a good job on Scates, found himself out on the right, received a pass from Barclay,-the big centre-half sent a long pin point pass to the lively McLean-the ball was under control in an instant. Having taken on and beaten the right back there was only going to be one outcome Brentwoods top scorer had added to his tally-no more than he or Brentwood deserved.
   Brentwood were now pushing for the winner-in doing so this gave Ravenhill a few chances of their own. neither team could convert anything that dropped their way-
leaving the game all square at the end and a point a piece.
   Another entertaining game between 2 teams, that will both be hoping to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
 
Team: C.Robson, White, Flynn, Roy, McGivern, Curry, Barclay (c), Bartlett, McLean, B.Robson, Johnston
 
Subs: Jest (n/u) Clelland (n/u) Hulbert (Roy)
 
Manager's Views:  Good showing by the lads today, disappointed not to win, as it would've gave us a big boost, but after last weeks no-show by the team, I'm happy enough with a point.The first half from the lads was excellent even with Ravenhill scoring it didn't bother us. The hunger was back today and that's exactly what was needed. Having now drawn our last 2 games we need to get back winning asap-another tough game next week with Agape being our hosts.

BRENTWOOD SALVAGE POINT
 
Brentwood were hoping to get their league ambitions back on track with the weather and cup game restricting them lately, today would hopefully be the start of another good run.
   It was evident right from the whistle they weren't going to get everything their own way - 8th pressed and harried every Brentwood player forcing errors and giving themselves good chances. Brentwood were finding this hard to cope with and were struggling to get a foot on the game or the ball, they couldn't get their usual flowing passing game going.
   However it was Brentwood that took the lead somewhat against the run of play-from the right side touchline set piece specialist Jason Johnston floated a beautiful ball into the danger area right on top of the 8th keeper and his defence with neither claiming it Marty Curry was on hand to nod home. Credit must be given to Ryan McGivern who also made a good run into the box and drew defenders attention away-no doubt he'll tell you Marty nicked the goal off him.
   This didn't discourage 8th one bit- they were still on top-winning tackles, getting first to the ball and just better all over the park, so it was a bigger surprise when Brentwood took a two goal lead-although it must be said "what a goal" a cracking 25 yard effort from Marty Curry gave him his second and the keeper no chance right into the top corner-with top goal scorer Stuarty McLean looking on from the bench Curry done his chances no harm at all.
   That goal would of been fitting to win any game, however 8th came back and came back strong their never say die attitude had worked a treat for them they scored three goals without reply to leave Brentwood shell shocked and staring at their third defeat of the season.
   As poor as Brentwood were the chances were still being created with top scorer McLean now on and out to prove a point he along with Brian Robson wasted great opportunities to draw the game level and maybe even win it.
   It was left to Jurad Polak to come on and try to work some magic-making his first team debut he gave 8th something else to think about, indeed the only way they seemed able to stop him was by fouling him thankfully for Brentwood one of these fouls was in the 18 yard box. With 9 mins left Polak had got the ball down in the box and was about to round the defender when he was scythed down-no question it was a penalty-Polak had to be replaced by McEldrew such was the severity of the tackle.
   It was left to Jason Johnston to try and draw Brentwood level showing no signs of nerves the experience shone through and Johnston clinically dispatched his spot kick to the keepers right giving him no chance finally in the last few mins Brentwood were starting to find flaws within the 8th team and had a chance near the end to win it however McLean wasted the opportunity to steal all three points.
   At the end it finished 3-3, hard to believe Brentwood were winning this one 2-0 at one stage, however even then they didn't look comfortable-8th will feel like they have been robbed a real good showing from a determined, well organised and hard working team.
 
Team: C. Robson, White, Smyth, Roy, McGivern, Barclay (c), Flynn, Clelland, Curry,       B. Robson, Johnston.
 
Subs:McEldrew (Polak), McLean (Smyth), Polak (B.Robson) 
 
Managers views: Very poor today all over the pitch-they had everything we didn't-desire, commitment, passion!! We need to take a good look at ourselves-saying that 8th were outstanding and will feel hard done by.- Plus Points from today-Marty Curry's second goal-a cracker also the fact we were nowhere near our best but still created good chances 3 in particular which Stuart and Brian should have done better with. Next week will sort us out we will need to be up for that match against Ravenhill YM.
 

BRENTWOOD II ENJOYED A COMFORTABLE WIN AGAINST WILLOWFIELD GAINING REVENGE FOR A 2-3 DEFEAT 2 WEEKS PREVIOUS JUST LIKE THEN BRENTWOOD CONTROLLED MOST OF THE FIRST HALF  BUT THIS TIME THEY CONTROLLED THE SECOND HALF AS WELL AND DIDNT FALL APART THIS TIME . AFTER A BRIGHT OPENING FROM THE VISITORS BRENTWOOD SCORED WITH THEIR FIRST REAL EFFORT FROM McMURRAY FROM THEN ON IN THEY TOOK THE GAME BY THE SCRUFF AND CREATED SOME GOOD OPENINGS WITH HAMMERS LONG THROWS CAUSING ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AND THAT IS WHERE BEATTIE GOT THE SECOND HEADING HOME A FLICK ON FRON ONE OF THOSE LONG THROWS, LYTTLE GRABBED THE THIRD BEFOR WILLOWFIELD FOUND THE NET AFTER A  WELL WORKED CORNER BUT THIS TIME BRENTWOOD DIDNT FALL TO PIECES AND LYTTLE AND BEATTIE FINISHED THE GAME OF FOR A WELL DESERVED VICTORY

REPORT FROM WILLOWFIELD WEBSITE

Willowfield Parish II fell to a 5-1 thumping away to league leaders Brentwood II in what could only be described as a frustrating and lacklustre performance. The two week break obviously did Willowfield no favours, following their previous impressive victory over the same opposition at Hydebank.

It seems it was back to the bad old days as Willowfield heads dropped in the face of adversity. The previous battling comeback from 2-0 down in the home fixture seemed a long way off as the Parish seemed to crumble under Brentwood pressure. Willowfield had started the game positively and looked the more dangerous side, putting Brentwood on the back foot from the off and going close with a couple of chances. Brentwood hit back with a goal against the run of play however, and from then on Willowfield caved in and it was one-way traffic with the league leaders very much in the driving seat.

The most disappointing aspect to Willowfield’s performance was the re-surfacing of some old bad habits. The team seemed to have forgotten the lessons learned over the course of the season so far. Let’s hope it is just a case of temporary amnesia and they can get back on track in the coming weeks. Hesitancy was again a major problem for Willowfield at both ends of the pitch, with defenders guilty of ball-watching and shot-shy forwards seemingly afraid to pull the trigger. This was not entirely unexpected as circumstance dictated that Willowfield II took to the pitch with seven midfielders and no strikers. In midfield the dreaded ‘Hollywood pass’ again reared its ugly head as the team seemed to forget the importance of the simple ball to feet. Once again we saw players inexcusably turning their backs on the ball and on occasion failing to challenge for headers. Without going into the numerous specifics, suffice to say that a catalogue of errors and a lack of assertiveness and aggression led to five goals conceded and a truly embarrassing scoreline - Willowfied II’s worst of the season. Special mention however, should go to Michael Galbraith who stood in for the injured Ricky Stopford in goals only to face an onslaught of Brentwood shots. Special mention should also go to Johnny Quinn who missed a headed chance that had both sidelines staring in open-mouthed disbelief! The superbly floated dead ball from Gary Boyd was simply begging to be put away. Still it wasn’t quite as bad as Quinn’s headed miss from half a yard out in the pre-season friendly at Greenwell Star – that will take some beating!

On the positive side, Willowfield’s brand new corner routine reaped instant rewards as Brentwood failed to deal with Willowfield’s movement and Johnny Quinn’s dangerous ball into the box. Davy Agnew’s instantly (miss)hit shot was picked up by the alert Stevie McGinnity and teed up for the equally alert Gary Boyd to bury from close range. Boyd was also unlucky to see a powerful drive turned onto the post on another occasion.

And on a final positive note: apparently Andy Melville’s girlfriend was happy with his performance!

Goal summary:

72 min - Gary Boyd (7/10)
Davy Agnew's shot from a half cleared corner was picked up by Stevie McGinnity and teed up for Gary Boyd to bury from inside the box.

BRENTWOOD II GOT BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST 43RD WITH AN EASY ENOUGH 4-1 WIN AT DAIRY HALL,, AFTER GOING 1-0 DOWN AFTER ONLY 5 MINUTES BRENTWOOD TOOK COMPLETE CONTROL AGAINST A SUPRISINLY WEAK 43RD SIDE .DAVID McMURRAY EQUALISED FROM A WELL TAKEN FREE KICK LOW INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER FOLLOWED BY A PENALTY FROM LYTTLE.THE HOME SIDE CREATED NUMEROUS CHANCE BUT SOME WOEFUL FINISHIN LET THEM DOWN AND IT TOOK AN OG FROM 43RD WHEN A CORNER WAS FLOATED IN TO LEAVE THE SCORE AT HALF TIME 3-1 ..THE SECOND HALF WAS MORE OF A CRUISE THAN ANYTHING WITH BRENTWOOD CONTENT TO SEE THE GAME OUT WHILE 43RD STRUGGLED TO CREATE ANYTHIN WORTHWHILE IT WAS LEFT TO LYTTLE TO ADD A LITTLE GLOSS TO THE SCORELINE WHEN HE SMASHED PAST THE KEEPER WITH 25 LEFT   FT 4-1

PETER McLEAN,HODGSON (C),BEATTIE,RUSSELL,SMITH,BARTLET,McMURRAY,STEVEN McLEAN,LYTTLE,POLAK,MILBY,  SUBS - TATE,MAINE,DUNCAN,FEKETE

BRENTWOOD PROGRESSED TO THE QUARTER FINALS OF THE SITTLINGTON CUP AFTER A THRILLING MATCH AGAINST RAVENHILL YM. BRENTWOOD HAD TWICE TAKEN THE LEAD DURING THE MATCH WITH STRIKES FROM McLEAN AND McGIVERN ONLY FOR RYM TO TWICE PEG THEM BACK IN A VERY EVEN GAME WHICH ENDED 2-2 AFTER 90 MINUTES BUT MORE EXCITEMENT WAS TO FOLLOW IN EXTRA TIME WITH RYM THIS TIME LEADING TWICE ONLY FOR McLEAN AND BARKLEY TO SQUARE THINGS UP TO LEAVE THE FINAL SCORE 4-4, BRENTWOOD HOWEVER HELD THEIR NERVE FOR THE SHOOTOUT IN WHICH CRAIG ROBSON PULLED OF TWO GREAT SAVES WITH THE HOME TEAM SCORING ALL OF THEIR PENS FROM McGIVERN - JOHNSTON,BRIAN ROBSON AND GOALKEEPER CRAIG ROBSON --- A GOOD WIN IN THE END AGAINST A VERY GOOD RYM SIDE WHO ARE ALSO PUSHING FOR PROMOTION WHO WE STILL HAVE TO PLAY TWICE IN THE LEAGUE SO IT WAS GOOD TO GET AN INSIGHT ON THEIR SQUAD ALTHOUGH THEY WERE SLIGHTLY UNDERSTRENGTH

MANAGER McANALLY WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE EFFORT AND COMMITMENT FROM THE SIDE WHICH WILL NEED TO CONTINUE IN BOTH LEAGUE AND CUP IF THEY ARE TO CHALLENGE TEAMS LIKE RYM AND BRYANSBURN FOR HONOURS

3 POINTS NUT NOT A GREAT SHOWING FROM THE SECONDS ON SATURDAY AS THAY MADE HARD WORK OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASIER VICTORY AFTER GETTING THEMSELVES INTO A CONTROLLING SITUATION AT 4-1 WITHOUT EVER REALLY PLAYING THAT WELL THAY LET THEMSELVES GET DRAGGED INTO A SCRAPPY GAME . DEAN RUSSELL GOT THE FIRST AFTER A CORNER HAD BEEN PARTIALLY CLEARED AND FROM 12 YARDS RAMMED HOME ON THE HALF VOLLEY, BUT WITHIN A MINUTE 8TH WERE LEVEL WHEN A MIX UP BETWEEN BEATTIE AND NORBERT LET THEIR STRIKER POKE HOME FROM 5 YARDS , 10 MINS LATER AND A LONG THROW FROM McLEAN WAS MET BY NOBLE WHO FLICKED OVER THE KEEPER FOR 2-1 AND SOON AFTER A GREAT EFFORT FROM 25 YARDS FROM TATE SAILED PAST THE KEEPER FOR 3.  HT 3-1

THE SECOND HALF WASNT PRETTY AND ALTHOUGH BRENTWOOD HAD MOST OF THE PLAY AND CHANCES THAY WERE VERY LACKLUSTRE FINDING IT HARD TO GERT ANY PASSING MOVES TOGETHER AND AGAINST A BETTER TEAM THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO PAY BUT EVENTUALLY THEY GOT A FOURTH AFTER A THROUGH BALL WAS FINISHED BY McELDREW FOR 4-1 MORE COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED BUT IT WAS 8TH WHO GOT 2 MORE GOALS THE FIRST FROM A FREEKICK THAT SAILED STRAIGHT INTO THE NET CATCHING THE KEEPER OFF HIS LINE HE REALLY SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THEIR 3RD CAME IN THE DYING SECONDS WHEN SPENCE WAS CAUGHT DAY DREAMING UNDER NO PRESSURE AND HE GAVE THE BALL STRAIGHT TO THE 8TH STRIKER WHO RAN THROUGH AND FINISHED EASILY FOR 4-3 BRENTWOOD HELD ON FOR THE WIN EASILY ENOUGH BUT IT WAS NOT A GOOD PERFORMANCE

BRENTWOOD II 3 V 3 RAVENHILL II

THE 2NDS DREW FOR THE SECOND TIME WITH RAVENHILL THIS SEASON IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AT DAIRY HALL ON SATURDAY . BRENTWOOD WON THE TOSS AND DECIDED TO PLAY AGAINST THE GALE FORCE WIND IN THE FIRST HALF ANS AS EXPECTED FOUND IT VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF THEIR OWN HALF WITH RAVENHILL HAVING ALL THE PRESSURE BUT BRENTWOOD HELD FIRM AND DEFENDED WELL BATTLING FOR EVERY BALL AND WORKING AS A TEAM WITH ANY SHOTS ON TARGET BEING WELL DEALT WITH BY BIG NORBERT ON HIS DEBUT.THE 2NDS COULD ONLY MUSTER A FEW HALF CHANCES AGAINST THE WIND BUT WHEN GREAT HUSTLING BY MILBY FORCED THE DEFENCE INTO A MISTAKE HE WAS BUNDLED OVER FOR A PENALTY WHICH JONNY TATE BANGED INTO THE TOP CORNER FOR AN UNLIKELY LEAD,BRENTWOOD WERE COPING WELL WITH THE RYM PRESSURE BUT JUST BEFORE HALF TIME THEY FELL ASLEEP WHEN A FREEKICK WAS WHIPPED IN AND TITT FOR RYM FOUND HIMSELF UNMARKED FOR AN EASY FINISH FROM 6 YARDS    HT 1-1                                                    THE SECOND HALF SHOULD HAVE SEEN BRENTWOOD PUTTING ALL THE PRESSURE ON WITH THE HIGH WINDS BUT IT WAS RAVENHILL WHO FOR THE FIRST 20 ODD MINUTES USED THE CONDITIONS BETTER AND TITT GRABBED 2 MORE GOALS ALTHOUGH IT HAS TO BE SAID SOME OF THE MARKING WAS TERRIBLE AT 3-1 DOWN AND RYM AT THAT TIME DESERVING THEIR LEAD BRENTWOOD KNEW THEY HAD TO REACT SO WHEN BEATTIE WAS MOVED FORWARD LEAVING 3 AT THE BACK IT WAS BACKS TO THE WALL FOR RAVENHILL AND TO BE TRUTHFUL THEY DEFENDED VERY WELL BUT EVENTUALLY PRESSUR TOLD AND SAM LYTTLE BEAT A COUPLE OF DEFENDERS TO CURL THE BALL INTO THE BOTTOM CORNER WITH JUST OVER 10 MINS LEFT ,BRENTWOOD CONTINUED TO PUSH AND WITH INJURY TIME JUST STARTED A GOOD TEAM MOVE FOUND JAMES DUNCAN WHO TOOK A COUPLE OF TOUCHES BEFORE SHOOTING THE RYM DEFENDER TRIED TO CLEAR BUT WAS TOO LATE AND IT WAS 3-3 IT IS INCLEAR IF THE BALL WAS OVER THE LINE ALREADY BUT JAMES IS CLAIMING IT ANYWAY                                                                                                                      MANAGER THOUGHTS

A GOOD RESULT IN THE END ESPECIALLY COMING FROM 2 GOALS DOWN AGAINST A VERY GOOD RYM TEAM WHO MIGHT FEEL HARD DONE BY BUT I FEEL A DRAW WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT IN THE END ,THEY GAVE US A BIG SCARE IN THE SECOND HALF AND HAD SOME DANGEROUS PLAYERS BUT FOR THE SECOND WEEK RUNNING WE HAVE BATTLED BACK FROM 2 GOALS DOWN TO GET A RESULT AND THE EFFORT AND COMMITMENT FROM MY PLAYERS WAS OUTSTANDING AS WAS RAVENHILLS ,PEOPLE LIKE ALAN HODGSON AND STEVEN McLEAN HAVENT PLAYED IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO TO COME IN AND PLAY LIKE THEY DID WAS PLAEASING AS WAS THE BIG KEEPERS PERFORMANCE ON HIS DEBUT

  THE FIRSTS EASILY SWEPT PAST BANGOR SWIFTS ON SATURDAY THANKS TO ONE OF THEIR BETTER PERFORMANCES OF THE SEASON WITH EVERY PLAYER RIGHT UP FOR THE JOB IN HAND THEY DIDNT TAKE LONG TO ASSERT THEIR AUTHORITY . STUART McLEAN STARTED THINGS OFF FINISHING OFF FROM A LONG UPFIELD BALL FROM ROBSON IN GOALS, SOON AFTER AND AN OWN GOAL FROM BANGOR MADE IT 2-0 APPARENTLY IT WAS A CRACKER UNFORTUNATLEY FOR THE BANGOR DEFENDER IT WAS IN THE WRONG NET . RYAN McGIVERN ADDED THE THIRD WITH A CRACKING FINISH FROM JOHNSTONS FREE KICK .BRENTWOOD WERE IN TOTAL CONTROL AND WERE PLAYING SOME GREAT PASSING FOOTBALL AND IT WAS NO SUPRISE WHEN THE 4TH GOAL ARRIVED AFTER A DEFENSIVE MIX UP BRIAN ROBSON CRACKED HOME A GREAT EFFORT FROM THE EDGE OF THE AREA BEFORE STUART McLEAN MADE IT 5-0 JUST BEFORE HALF TIME . THE SECOND HALF WAS A BIT OF A NONE EVENT WITH THE GAME ALREADY WRAPPED UP BRENTWOOD TOOK THEIR FOOT OF THE PEDAL BUT WERE STILL IN COMPLETE CONTROL AS STUART McLEAN GRABBED HIS HAT TRICK TO ROUND OF A VERY SOLID PERFORMANCE

MANAGERS THOUGHTS == VERY PLEASING ON THE EYE TODAY AND  6-0 WIN A CLEAN SHEET AND A HAT TRICK FOR YOUNG STUART WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR ,I ALSO HAVE TO MENTION THE BACK 4 WHO KEPT FOCUSED BRILLANTLY THROUGH THE WHOLE GAME (McGIVERN-FLYNN-WHITE AND KYLE FARLEY ) AND CONSIDERING 3 OF OUR MAIN PLAYERS WERE MISSING TODAY I THOUGHT IT WAS AGREAT PERFORMANCE ESPECIALLY FOR THE GUYS FILLING IN FOR THEM IF WE KEEP PERFORMING LIKE THAT WE WONT BE FAR AWAY                                                                                                                                      THE 2NDS BOUNCED BACK TO WINNING WAYS ALTHOUGH THEY DONE IT THE HARD WAY COMING BACK FROM 4-2 DOWN WITH 20 MINUTES LEFT TO WIN 6-4 TRAILING 3-2 THE HOME REF AWARDED A VERY DUBIOUS PENALTY AND BRENTWOOD FOUND THEMSELVES 4-2 DOWN BUT THE AWAY SIDE WERE INCENSED BY THE PENALTY DECISION AND THIS SEEM TO SPUR THEM ON AND 4 GOALS IN 20 MINS FOLLOWED AS 43RD COLLAPSED , I HOPE TO ADD A MORE DETAILED REPORT SOON

BRENTWOOD 1STS MOVED UP TO 2ND IN THE LEAGUE WITH AN UNCONVINCING DISPLAY VS 37TH OB ON SATURDAY A DECENT FIRST HALF SAW THEM GO 2-0 UP THEN FALL ASLEEP IN THE SECOND HALF TO FIND THEMSELVES HANGING ON AT THE END WITH ROBBO BEING CALLED INTO ACTION FAR TOO OFTEN TO HELP PRESERVE THE POINTS BUT 3 POINTS NONETHELESS . BAD NEWS FOR BIRCHY AS HE DISLOCATED HIS SHOULDER AND WILL MISS A FEW WEEKS OF WORK SO WE WISH HIM A SPEEDY RECOVERY

MANAGER McANALLY WAS LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH SOME OF HIS PLAYERS AFTER THE GAME AND HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR THEM IN THE CHANGING ROOMS HOPEFULLY THEY DIDNT FALL ON DEAF EARS.

THE SECOND TEAM WERE EVEN LESS IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH AGAINST 10TH OB WHO RAN OUT EASY WINNERS IN THE END Y 3-0 THE FIRST HALF WAS ALMOST EMBARRASING TO WATCH WITH AT THE MOST 3 PLAYERS OUT OF 11 WORTH THEIR PLACE MATTERS WERENT HELPED WHEN THE KEEPER HAD TO BE REPLACED BY RAB McLEAN AFTER 25 MINS WHICH DIDNT HELP THE FORMATION BUT IN TRUTH IT PROBABLY MATTERED VERY LITTLE AS 10TH WERE FIRST TO EVERYTHING AND ATTACKED VERY QUICKLY AND WITH PURPOSE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 2-0 UP AT THE BREAK. THE 2ND HALF WAS AN IMPROVEMENT BUT NOT MUCH AS 10TH ADDED A THIRD TEN MINUTES IN AND IT WASNT UNTIL THEN THAT BRENTWOOD STARTED TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AND WERE PROBABLY UNLUCKY NOT GET ONE BACK AFTER A COUPLE OF GREAT SAVES FROM THEIR KEEPER AND TERRY McDOWELL HITTING THE BAR AFTER BEATTIE HAD A PENALTY SAVED BUT 10TH WERE FULL VALUE FOR THE 3 POINTS

BRENTWOOD II 6 V 0 NEWTOWN FOREST

BRENTWOOD BOUNCED BACK AFTER LAST WEEKS DEFEAT IN GREAT STYLE CONVINCINLY BEATING NEWTOWN FOREST BY SIX GOALS WITH BEATTIE GRABBING A HAT TRICK . AN EVEN FIRST TWENTY MINUTES SAW FEW CHANCES FOR EITHER SIDE IN THE POURING RAIN AND STRONG WIND BUT BRENTWOOD FOUND THEMSELVES IN FRONT AFTER 24 MINUTES WHEN A GREAT THROUGH BALL FROM SMYTH FOUND HIS  DAD CLEN THROUGH AND IT WAS 1-0 FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE BREAK A HIGH BALL INTO THE BOX SHOULD HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY THE KEEPER BUT INSTEAD OF CATCHING IT HE TRIED TO BOOT CLEAR AND MISSED THE BALL COMPLETLEY AND MAINE TAPPED HOME 4 MINUTES LATER IT WAS 3-0 WHEN LYTTLE FLICKED ON A CROSS AND BEATTIE TAPPED IN ON THE LINE. THE SECOND HALF WAS ANOTHER SLOW STARTER AS FOREST TRIED TO FIND A WAY BACK BUT BRENTWOODS DEFENSIVE LINE OF LEGGE,SPENCE,McLEAN AND SMYTH EASILY DEALT WITH ANYTHING THROWN AT THEM.BRENTWOOD ADDED A FOURTH AFTER GREAT WORK BY MAINE WAS FINISHED OFF BY LYTTLE AS HE SMASHED HOME FROM 8 YARDS ,THE HOME SIDE THEN TOOK FULL CONTROL CREATING CHANCES EVERY TIME THEY WENT FORWARD AND BEATTIE GOT HIS HAT TRICK AT THE FAR POST WITH 25 LEFT ,BRENTWOOD THEN BROUGH ON ALL THREE SUBS AND CONTINUED TO PUMMEL FOREST AND ADAMS FINISHED THE SCORING WITH 10 LEFT

A VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE ESPECIALLY FROM SPENCE McLEAN AND BEATTIE WITH SMYTH ALSO ADDING A SOLID PERFORMANCE IN DEFENCE AND LYTTLE MAKING A FINE CONTRIBUTION IN MIDFIELD

BRENTWOOD 4 V 0 43RD OB

THE FIRST ROUND OF THE SITTLINGTON CUP SAW THE FIRST TEAM GO THROUGH 4-0 WITH AN EASY ENOUGH VICTORY AGAINST 43RD WHO IN THEIR DEFENCE WERE UNDERSTRENGTH BUT BRENTWOOD WERENT ABOUT TO LET A SHOCK HAPPEN AND WENT ABOUT THEIR BUISNESS IN THE PROPER MANNER WITH STUART McLEAN GRABBING 2 AARAN CLELAND GETTING A CRACKER AND JASON JOHNSTON STROKING HOME A PENALTY.

MANAGERS THOUGHTS - VERY HAPPY WITH A CLEAN SHEET AND A PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE ALSO HAPPY WITH McLEANS GREAT ATTITUDE COMING OF THE BENCH A SCORING 2 AS WELL AS JONNY ROYS PERFORMANCE ,I WAS HOPING TO GET A FEW POINTERS FOR THE LEAGURE MATCH WITH 43RD BUT THEY WERE VERY UNDERSTRENGTH SO I CANT TAKE TO MUCH OUT OF IT BUT GETTING TO THE NEXT ROUND WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TODAY

3RD BANGOR 2 V0 BRENTWOOD II  - THE SECOND TEAM FELL TO THEIR FIRST DEFEAT THIS SEASON AFTER 11 UNBEATEN . A MUCH WEAKEND SIDE TOOK TO THE FIELD BUT THERE CAN NOT BE ANY EXUSES AS THEY JUST DID NOT PERFORM LIKE THEIR OPPONENTS WHO WERE FIRST TO EVERY BALL AND PLAYED SOME GREAT FOOTBALL AND THEY DESERVEDLY TOOK THE LEAD AFTER 30 MINUTES . BRENTWOOD HOWEVER DID HAVE SOME GREAT CHANCES TO SCORE THEMSELVES WITH MAINE SOMEHOW MISSING A FREE HEADER FROM 3 YARDS AND LYTTLE AND NOBLE BOTH MISSING GREAT CHANCES WHEN CLEAN THROUGH BEFORE A MAJOR LETOFF FROM BANGOR WHEN THEIR STRIKER MISSED AN OPEN NET FROM 10 YARDS .

THE SECOND HALF WAS A BIT MORE EVEN BUT BANGOR WERE STILL PLAYING THE BETTER FOOTBALL AND WENT 2 UP WITH 25 TO GO ,A BRENTWOOD FREEKICK WAS CLEARED UP THE FIELD AND WITH SOME DEFENDERS CAUGHT NAPPING 3RD BANGORS STRRIKER BROKE FREE AND HIS EFFORT WAS PARTIALLY SAVED ONLY FOR THE BALL TO JUST GO OVER THE LINE BEFORE THE KEEPER COULD CLEAR. BRENTWOOD TRIED IN VAIN TO COMEBACK HITTING THE BAR TWICE AND ALSO THE POST AND FORCING THEIR KEEPER INTO A COUPLE OF DECENT SAVES NEAR THE END BUT IT STAYED 2-0 AND 3RD BANGOR DESERVED THEIR VICTORY

A MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED NEXT WEEK WITH A LOT OF PLAYERS LETTING THEMSELVES DOWN AND ONLY THE LIKES OF DEAN RUSSEL AND TERRY McDOWELL ALONG WITH STAND IN KEEPER MARK STOTHERS CAN TAKE ANY CREDIT TODAY

BRENTWOOD 3 V 1 8TH OLD BOYS

THE FIRST TEAM PUT LAST WEEKS DEFEAT BEHIND THEM BY COLLECTING THREE POINTS AGAINST 8TH OB ON SATURDAY. A PERFECT START THAT SAW 2 GOALS IN THE FIRST 8 MINUTES GAVE REAL HOPE OF A BIG WIN WHEN RYAN McGIVERN POPPED UP AFTER 3 MINUTES FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER PIECE OF MAGIC FROM STUART McLEAN HOPES WERE HIGH BUT BRENTWOOD SOON TOOK THEIR FOOT OF THE PEDAL AND ALLOWED 8TH TO BATTLE THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE GAME CAUSING SOME NERVY MOMENTS BEFORE HALF TIME.SOON AFTER THE RESTART 8TH GOT THEIR REWARD AND REDUCED THE DEFECIT TO ONE GOAL ,8TH WERE LIFTED BY THIS AND TRIED THEIR BEST TO CAUSE PANIC FOR THE HOME SIDE BUT MOST OF THEIR ATTACKS WERE DEALT WITH WELL BY ROBBO IN NETS AND THE REST OF THE DEFENCE.WITH AROUND 20 OR 25 MINUTES LEFT AN INSPIRED SUBSTITUTION BY McANALLY SAW AARON HOY COMING ON FOR HIS DEBUT AND MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AS HE CHASED EVERY LOST CAUSE AS WELL AS SHOW SOME GREAT SKILL AND DETERMINATION ,BRENTWOOD THEN GRADUALLY TOOK THE GAME BACK IN THEIR FAVOUR AND IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES WHEN HOY CHASED WHAT LOOKED A LOST CAUSE OUT NEAR THE CORNER FLAG AND WHEN THE KEEPER DECIDED TO COME AND TRY TO STOP HIM HE LOFTED THE BALL OVER HIM AND CHRIS MAINE WAS ON HAND TO TAP IN TO FINISH THE GAME.TOP PERFORMERS WERE ROBBO (AS USUAL),BIRCHY,BARNEY AND AARON HOY THE ONLY DISSAPOINTMENT WAS LOSING MULLET THROUGH INJURY AGAIN IN ONLY HIS THIRD GAME BACK AFTER THE LAST ONE.

MANAGERS VIEW ----ITS GREAT TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS BUT AFTER THE WAY WE STARTED I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO FILL OUR BOOTS BUT CREDIT TO 8TH AS THEY DIDNT LET US.BUT IVE GOT TO BE HAPPY CONSIDERING WE WERE MISSING BIG RICKY,JONNY ROY AND NUDGER AND THERES MORE TO COME FROM US. ALSO BRENTWOOD WOULD LIKE TO PASS ON THEIR CONDOLENCES TO 8TH OB REGUARDING THEIR FORMER PLAYER WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY

THE FIRST TEAM SUFFERED THEIR FIRST DEFEAT IN THE LEAGUE ON SATURDAY AGAINST 82ND OB THEY WERENT HELPED BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAD TO PLAY MOST OF THE GAME WITH 10 MEN AFTER NIGEL SMYTH WAS SENT OFF FOR DISSENT EARLY ON BUT WILL STILL FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE 3 POINTS AFTER MISSING COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO SCORE BUT FAIR PLAY TO 82ND FOR TAKING THEIR CHANCES AND THATS WHAT WINS GAMES. IT WAS MAYBE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE AS SOMETIMES TEAMS CAN GET TO COMFORTABLE AND COMPLACENCY SETS IN SO HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE GOT A BIT OF A WAKE UP CALL AND START ANOTHER GOOD RUN

THE SECONDS HOWEVER WERE TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT THEY NEEDED TO UP THEIR GAME AS PERFORMANCES HADNT BEEN GREAT LATELY AND I WAS WORRIED THAT SOONER OR LATER WE WOULD BE MADE TO PAY , THEY CERTAINLY LISTENED AND RACED TO A 5-0 HT LEAD DEAN RUSSELL OPENED THE SCORING FLICKING HOME FROM A CORNER AND BEATTIE POUNCED ON SOME WOEFUL DEFENDING FOR THE SECOND SOON AFTER GREAT WORK BY TERRY McDOWELL SET UP SAM LYTTLE FOR THE THIRD ,THEN THE GOAL OF THE GAME FROM RUSSELL RUNNING FROM THE HALF WAY LINE HE BEAT THREE PLAYERS AND UNLEASHED A SMASHING SHOT FROM 30 YARDS OUT INTO THE TOP CORNER THE 5TH WAS A GLANCING HEADER FROM LYTTLE. THE SECOND HALF STARTED WELL WITH LYTTLE FINISHING FROM 3 YARDS FOR HIS HAT TRICK BUT THE GAME WENT COLD FOR THE NEXT 25 MINUTES AS BRENTWOOD TOOK THEIR FOOT OF THE PEDAL AND LET 8TH PLAY A BIT AND THEY CAUSED A FEW PROBLEMS BUT NOTHING TOO SERIOUS THREE SUBSTITUTIONS WERE MADE MCELDREW,NOBLE AND PETER McLEAN ALL CAME ON TO FRESHEN THINGS UP AND McELDREW FOUND HIMSELF ON THE SCORESHEET DRIVING HOME FROM THE EDGE OF THE BOX BEFORE BEATTIE HEADED IN NUMBER EIGHT A GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT HARDER GAMES LIE AHEAD

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES WERE FROM DEAN RUSSELL ,GERRY NOBLE ON HIS DEBUT ,DEE SPENCE AND SAM LYTTLE FOR GETTING ANOTHER HAT TRICK

A GREAT SATURDAY FOR BOTH TEAMS  AS THE FIRSTS BANGED IN 8 PAST WILLOWFIELD AND THE SECONDS EASED PAST CASTLEREAGH COLTS 6-2  .

THE 1STS ACTUALLY WENT BEHIND EARLY ON AFTER A MIX UP IN DEFENCE BUT WITHIN TEN MINUTES WERE 3-1 UP WITH GOALS FROM BARTLET(2) AND McLEAN WHICH WAS AGREAT RESPONSE FROM THE TEAM AND EXACTLY WHAT THE MANAGER HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR AND THE KILLER INSTINCT CONTINUED AS BRENTWOOD POURED FORWARD PUTTING THEIR FELLOW PROMOTION HOPEFULS UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND MORE GOALS FOLLOWED ANOTHER FROM McLEAN AS WELL AS 2 (YES TWO)FROM THE OLD HAND JASON JOHNSTONE LEAPING LIKE A SALMON TO HEAD HOME HIS FIRST AND SLIDING IN FOR HIS SECOND THE OTHERS COMING FROM NUDGER AND McGIVERN .

THE SECONDS KEPT UP THEIR CHALLENGE ALSO WITH ANOTHER WIN AGAINST C/COLTS WINNING 3-1 AND CRUISING THEY DONE THEIR USUAL TRICK AND FELL ASLEEP LETTING THEIR OPPONENTS BACK INTO THE GAME AND AFTER THEY PULLED IT BACK TO 2-3 COLTS WERE AWARDED A PENALTY ONLY FOR STAND IN KEEPER DEAN RUSSELL TO MAKE A GOOD SAVE BRENTWOOD TOOK HEED OF THAT WARNING AND ADDED A FOURTH FROM CHRIS MAINE CLOSELY FOLLOWED WITH A FIFTH FROM BEATTIE AND PETER McLEAN CAME OFF THE BENCH TO COMPLETE THE SCORING IN THE FINAL MINUTE

SCORERS MAINE 2, TATE,BEATTIE,P McLEAN,LYTTLE

THE FIRSTS GOT BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST BANGOR ON SATURDAY AND ALTHOUGH THEY ONLY WON BY ONE GOAL MANY MORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SCORED AS A MIXTURE OF PLAYERS WERE GUILTY OF MISSING NUMEROUS CHANCES AND IT WAS LEFT TO GARY BARKLEY TO STROKE THE BALL HOME FOR THE WINNER . MANAGER PETER McANALLY WAS PLEASED WITH THE WIN AND THE CHANCES CREATED BUT IS STILL NOT COMPLETLEY SATISFIED WITH SOME OF THE PERFORMANCES AND WANTS MORE FROM THE TEAM WITH BIGGER GAMES LYING AHEAD  PETER ADDED " I MIGHT LOOK TO STRENGTHEN THE SQUAD FURTHER AS WE ARE A LITTLE LIGHT IN SOME POSITONS BUT WE ARE STILL UNBEATEN WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN "

BRENTWOOD II  3 V 1 CASTLEREAGH COLTS II

THE SECONDS ALSO COLLECTED ANOTHER 3 POINTS WITH A HARD FOUGHT WIN AGAINST THE COLTS ON SATURDAY A VERY SLUGGISH FIRST HALF SAW  THE COLTS LOOK STRONGER AS THEY WERE FIRST TO EVERY BALL AND LOOKED HUNGRIER ALL ROUND AND IT WAS NO SUPRISE WHEN THEY TOOK THE LEAD ALTHOUGH THEY HAD A HELPING HAND FROM THE HOME KEEPER WHO CAME FOR THE CORNER ONLY TO PUSH THE BALL INTO HIS OWN NET BRENTWOOD GOT BACK INTO THE GAME TEN MINS LATER WHEN THE REFEREE AWARDED A PENALTY WHICH SEEMED A VERY HARSH DECISION BUT BEATTIE SCORED AND MORE JOY WAS TO COME FROM A GREAT TEAM MOVE THAT WAS FINISHED BY McELDREW AFTER HE WAS PLAYED IN BY BEATTIE , SO BRENTWOOD WENT IN AT HALF TIME 2-1 UP BUT BARELY DESERVED AND THEY RECIEVED SOME STERN WORDS FROM THE GAFFER

THE SECOND HALF WAS BETTER BUT NOT GREAT THOUGH IT WAS BRENTWOOD WHO WERE GUILTY OF MISSING SEVERAL GREAT CHANCES ALONG WITH SOME BAD LUCK FOR CHRIS MAINE WHO SRUCK THE BAR 25 YARDS OUT . THE DEFENCE WAS ALOT FIRMER IN THE SECOND HALF BUT STILL FELL ASLEEP AT TIMES PRESENTING THE COLTS WITH 1 OR 2 OPPOTUNITIES TO SCORE HOWEVER BEATTIE KILLED THE GAME OFF HEADING HOME FROM A McMURRAY CORNER THE RETURN GAME IS NEXT WEEK AND CASTLEREAGH WILL BE LOOKING FOR REVENGE SO A BETTER DISPLAY IS NEEDED TO KEEP UP THE TITLE PUSH

BOTH BRENTWOOD SIDES PLAYED OUT DRAWS AT THE WEEKEND THE FIRSTS FINISHING 1-1 WITH QUEENS AND THE 2NDS 2-2 WITH BALLYGOWAN

PETER McANALLY WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE DISPLAY OF HIS SIDE ESPECIALLY AFTER MISSING TWO PENALTIES , QUEENS WERE THE BETTER SIDE FROM START TO FINISH CUTTING OUT THE MIDFIELD THREAT OF JOHNSTONE AND BARKLEY FROM THE START AND THE ONLY TEAM PLAYING ANY KIND OF FOOTBALL DURING THE GAME.

SO BRENTWOOD CAN COUNT THEMSELVES LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH A DRAW EVEN WITH STUART McLEAN MISSING 2 PENS TO QUOTE ONE THE PLAYERS "we were outclassed all over the pitch"

 MATCH REPORT FROM BALLYGOWAN WEBSITE DAFL Div2B - Sat 08 Nov 08 Ballygowan II 2-2 Brentwood II Ballygowan and Brentwood played out a 2-2 draw in windy conditions at Hydebank playing fields on Saturday. Jamie Moffett and Ray Johnston got the Ballygowan goals however the draw was the fair result as both sides battled bravely against the elements. Ballygowan put last weeks defeat at the hands of Comber YM behind them and took the game Brentwood from kick-off. Brentwood were late arriving and were caught cold as Ballygowan went on the attack immediately and were rewarded with the opening goal after just 25 seconds. Top goalscorer Jamie Moffett was the man on target as he sped through on goal and calmly slid the ball past the Brentwood keeper. What followed was bizarre as Brentwood argued the ball had gone through the side netting and a brief hold-up followed before the game could restart. The lead was short-lived however as Brentwood hit back just minutes later. A corner was cleared by the Ballygowan defence but volleyed back straight past keeper Fintan Carey from fully 30 yards. Both teams were pressing to gain the advantage but neither could find a way through. Ballygowan had claims for a penalty turned down when Davy Moore was felled however they could have taken the lead minutes later when Moore broke through but was denied by the Brentwood keeper. Brentwood had the lion's share of possession but it was Ballygowan who created the better chances and should have taken the lead when Moore played Moffett in on goal but a fine save kept the scores level. Brentwood played a lot of high balls into the Ballygowan penalty area but the defence of Stephen McCullough, Jonathan Beggs and Robin Agnew had to be on their toes to deal with the danger. Once again Ballygowan came up against a team with a long-throw specialist. This brought back memories of the 3rd Bangor game where Ballygowan struggled to cope with the same tactic however on Saturday the defence done well. Fintan Carey showed on several occasions in the first half that he is one of the best keepers at this level producing some solid handling of shots and crosses in very windy conditions. Robbie Magowan probably should have given Ballygowan the lead but his long range header just cleared the bar. Half-time Ballygowan 1 Brentwood 1 The end-to-end football of the first half was repeated in the second with Brentwood continuing their plan of getting the ball to their forwards quickly. Ballygowan were finding some joy down the flanks with Paris McDonagh and Ray Johnston seeing plenty of the ball but chances were at a premium.Brentwood were first on the attack but Carey showed alertness as he was quick off his line to narrow the angle as the forward blazed wide. Moffet's pace was a constant threat to the Brentwood backline and he was denied as he was put through one-on-one but the Brentwood keeper came out on top again. With 20 minutes of the half gone Ballgowan regained their lead with a fantastic piece of counter attacking football. Carey ended a Brentwood attack and immediate released Ross Hunter who carried the ball before playing it wide to McDonagh who in turn found Moore on the edge of the 18 yard box. He showed great awareness to slip the ball to the advancing Johnson who slid the ball home to finish off a great team move. Brentwood responded by throwing men forward at every opportunity pushing captain Stevie Letman and his midfield partner Hunter back. Manager Simon Cherry made his first change bringing on Phil Smyth to replace Robbie Magowan and add strength to midfield. Ballygowan were under pressure with every free-kick and throw-in being launched into the penalty area but the defence held strong and when breached Carey was on hand to snuff out any chances. Carey had to be at his best with 15 minutes to go as he produced a fantastic finger-tip save to push a seemingly goal-bound shot over the bar. Ballygowan introduced Billy Bell and Stuart Johnston to try and regain a strong grip on the game. Bell had an immediate impact as he proved a handful for the Brentwood defence. Brentwood's pressure paid dividends with 12 minutes to go when a long free-kick was just touched by a forward past Carey from 10 yards. Neither side was prepared to settle for a point and had chances as time ebbed away. Ballygowan had another good penalty shout when Hunter was shoved in the back at a corner but again it wasn't given. Credit to both sides for playing out an entertaining game in difficult conditions Scorers: Jamie Moffett, Ray Johnston Squad: Fintan Carey, Stephen McCullough, Jonathan Beggs, Robin Agnew, Paris McDonagh, Ray Johnston, Stevie Letman, Ross Hunter, Robbie Magowan, Jamie Moffett Subs used: Phil Smyth, Billy Bell, Stuart Johnston

BRENTWOODS HOPES OF A GOOD RUN IN THE BILLY ALLEN SHIELD CAME TO AN END ON THE BIG BLANCHFLOWER PITCH AGAINST A VERY FIT AND WELL ORGANISED BELFAST DEAF UNITED . THE FIRST HALF WAS FULL OF PROMISE HOWEVER WITH BRENTWOOD PRESSING AND PLAYING SOME NEAT FOOTBALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK USING THE BIG PITCH TO THEIR ADVANTAGE ALTHOUGH THE TWO OR THREE GOOD OPENINGS THEY CREATED WERENT TAKEN AND THEY WERE MADE TO PAY IN THE SECOND HALF AS BDU,S FITNESS STARTED TO TELL AND ONCE THEY GOT TO GRIPS WITH THE MIDFIELD THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE ONE WINNER AFTER THEY MADE THE BREAKTHROUGH EVENTUALLY RUNNING OUT 3-0 . A GOOD DISPLAY THOUGH BY THE FIRSTS SHOWING PROMISING SIGNS DURING THE GAME AGAINST ONE OF THE BETTER SIDES FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

THE SECONDS TRAVELLED TO PLAY RAVENHILL IN THEIR OWN BACK YARD FOR THE BIGGEST GAME OF THEIR SEASON SO FAR AND CAME AWAY WITH A CREDIBLE 1-1 DRAW.

THE FIRST HALF SAW RAVENHILL PRESS HARD .ALL OVER THE PITCH WITH BRENTWOOD STRUGGLING TO MATCH THEIR OPPONENTS IN ALL ASPECTS BUT FOR ALL THEIR PRESSURE THEY COULD ONLY MUSTER ONE OR TWO DECENT CHANCES BRENTOOD DID START TO COME INTO THE GAME LATE IN THE HALF WITH BEATTIE MISSING THE BALL COMPLETLY FROM TWO YARDS OUT AND SAM LYTTLE HEADING WIDE FROM A FREE HEADER FIVE YARDS OUT. THE SECOND HALF WAS MUCH BETTER FROM THE AWAY SIDE AS THEY STARTED TO WIN MORE FIFTY FIFTYS AND PUSH RAVENHILL BACK THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME FROM A CURRY CORNER HEADED HOME FROM 12 YARDS BY STUART BEATTIE . FOR THE NEXT 15 OR 20 MINUTES BRENTWOOD WERE RATHER COMFORTABLE WITH RYM NOT HURTING THEM AT  THE BACK BUT WHEN THE MIDFIELD FELL ASLEEP AND ALLOWED A RYM PLAYER TO RUN FREE AND SEND THE BALL OVER THE TOP THE DEFENCE WERE TO SLOW TO RESPOND AND THEIR STRIKER RAN FREE FOR 1-1 AFTER THIS BOTH TEAMS PRESSED HARD AND BOTH COULD HAVE HAD MORE GOALS BUT BRENTWOOD MISSED THE BEST CHANCES LATE ON SOON AFTER A GREAT SAVE FROM THE KEEPER FROM BEATTIE YOUNG JONNY CONNORS FOUND HIMSELF UNMARKED AT THE BACK POST BUT COULDNT GET FULL CONTROL OF THE BALL AND HIS SCUFFED EFFORT ROLLED JUST WIDE ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UNFAIR ON RYM HAD IT WENT IN .THE REFEREE BLEW THE FINAL WHISTLE STRAIGHT AFTER AND A DRAW WAS A FAIR RESULT

ANOTHER THREE POINTS ON SATURDAY IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AGINST A DETERMINED NEWTOWN FOREST ALTHOUGH THE SCORELINE  SUGGESTS THAT IS WAS CLOSER MATCH THAN IT ACTUALLY WAS AS BRENTWOOD CONTROLLED MOST OF THE GAME WITHOUT EVER GETTING INTO TOP GEAR DEREK BIRCH OPENED THE SCORING AND GARY BARKLEY FINISHED WELL JUST BEFORE HALF TIME BUT A MINUTE LATER AN ATTEMPTED CROSS FROM FOREST WAS TOTALLY MISHIT AND LOOPED INTO THE NET LEAVING ROBSON WITH NO CHANCE.

MINUTES INTO THE SECOND HALF BRENTWOOD ADDED A THIRD A PILED FORWARD LOOKING FOR MORE GOALS THEN TEY WERE HIT WITH A SUCKER PUNCH WHEN THE BALL DROPPED TO A FOREST PLAYER FORTY YARDS OUT AND HE TRIED HIS LUCK SEEING THE KEEPER OFF HIS LINE AND THE BALL SAILED IN FOR 3-2 BUT BRENTWOOD NEVER REALLY LOOKED IN ANY DANGER AND COULD HAVE ADDED MORE BUT FOR POOR FINISHING

FINJAL SCORE  WIN 3-2

THE SECOND TEAMS NEW PLAYING KIT HAS BEEN ORDERED AND WILL BE ARRIVING SOON

BOTH BRENTWOOD TEAMS KEPT THEIR UNBEATEN RECORDS IN THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON WITH THE FIRSTS RAMMING IN SIX PAST BANGOR SWIFTS  AND THE SECONDS HITTING NINE AGAINST 82ND OB

THE FIRSTS WENT BEHIND AFTER 22 MINUTES AFTER A VERY SLUGGISH FIRST TWENTY MINUTES , THIS WAS CERTAINLY A WAKE UP CALL AND THE BOYS RESPONDED WELL WITH MOST OF THE LINK UP PLAY COMING FROM JASON JOHNSTON IN MIDFIELD AND WHEN RICKY BARTLET SCORED FOR 1-1 BANGORS HEADS SEEMED TO GO DOWN .

BIG GAPS STARTED TO APPEAR ALL OVER THE PARK FOR BRENTWOOD TO CAPITALISE ON AND THEY DID JUST THAT SCORING TWICE MORE BEFORE HALF TIME THROUGH STUART McLEAN. THE SECOND HALF CONTINUED WERE THE FIRST LEFT OFF AND BUT FOR SOME POOR FINISHING AND BAD LUCK BRENTWOOD COULD HAVE HAD LOTS MORE BUT THEY DID ADD THREE MORE IN HTE END WITH RICKY BARTLET AND McLEAN BOTH FINISHING WITH HAT TRICKS ANOTHER SOLID PERFORMANCE WITH YOUNG  DEAN RUSSEL IMPRESSING AT THE BACK IN HIS FIRST START FOR THE TEAM COVERING FOR THE INJURED RAB WHITE

BRENTWOOD II 9 V 4 82ND OB

THE SECOND TEAM STAYED TOP OF THE LEAGUE WITH A MUCH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE BEATING 82ND OB FOR THE SECOND WEEK RUNNING ONLY THIS TIME MORE CONVINCINLY PHIL JEST OPENED THE SCORING AFTER TEN MINS AFTER BEATTIE ROBBED THE KEEPER AND LAID THE BALL OFF TO JEST AND HE LOBBED THE BALL INTO THE EMPTY NET SOON AFTER A LONG THROW FROM McMURRAY WAS HEADED STRAIGHT TO THE KEEPER BUT THE WET BALL SLIPPED THROUGH HIS HANDS AND INTO  THE NET FOR 2-0  JONNY TATE WAS PULLING ALL THE STRINGS IN THE MIDDLE AIDED BY PHIL SIBLEY AND GOOD WORK FROM BOTH OF THEM PUT BEATTIE CLEAN THROUGH HE COOLY BE THE KEEPER FOR 3-0 SIBLEY GOT HIS NAME ON THE SCORE SHEET  SOON AFTER WINNING THE BALL IN HIS OWN HALF HE BEAT TWO PLAYERS AND RACED THROUGH ON GOAL AND SMASHED HOME FOR 4-0,

82ND GOT THEIR FIRST JUST BRFORE THE BREAK STRAIGHT FROM A CORNER WHEN CROSKERY MISJUDGED AND THE BALL WENT IN OFF THE POST

BRENTWOOD STARTED THE SECOND HALF VERY SLOWLY AND GOT LUCKY ON A FEW OCCASIONS  BEFORE BEATTIE FINISHED OFF AFTER A GOAL MOUTH SCRAMBLE FOR THEIR FIFTH THEY CALMED DOWN A BIT MORE AFTER THIS CREATING MORE CHANCES BUT THE STORY OFF THE DAY WAS SAM LYTTLE COMING ON AS SUB AND SCORING WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH AFTER ONLY TEN SECONDS AND THEN GOING ON TO GRAB A HAT TRICK WITH JONNY TATE GRABBING ONE INBETWEEN 82ND HOWEVER NEVER GAVE UP AND GRABBED THREE GOALS IN THE SECOND HALF  BUT BRENTWOOD WER ALWAYS TO FAR AHEAD FOR THEM TO REALLY GET BACK INTO IT

4 WINS FROM 4 FOR THE SECONDS NOW BUT THIS WAS A REAL BATTLE AGAINST A VERY DETERMINED COMBER SIDE WHO WER HOPING TO MAKE UP FOR LAST WEEKS 5-1 LOSS AGAINST US . WHAT A START THEY HAD TAKING THE LEAD AFTER ONLY FOUR MINUTES AND IN TRUTH COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN 2 UP BRENTWOOD HOWEVER GOT A BURST OF ENERGY THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT TEN MINUTES CREATING SOME GREAT OPENINGS THE BEST OF WHICH WAS FINIISHED OFF AT THE BACK POST BY BEATTIE AFTER SOME GREAT WORK DOWN THE LEFT BY RUSSEL, THE GAME THEN BECAME A MIDFIELD BATTLE FOR FIFTHTEEN OR TWENTY MINUTES AND IT HAS TO BE SAID COMBER WER JUST ABOUT GETTING THE BETTER OF IT SO WHEN BRENTWOOD TOOK A 2-1 LEAD IT WAS PROBABLY AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY , ROBBIE MULLIGAN WON THE BALL ON THE HALF WAY LINE AND PLAYED A SUPERB THROUGH BALL INTO CHRIS MAINES PATH AND HE KEPT HIS HEAD TO BEAT THE KEEPER FROM JUST INSIDE THE BOX .

BRENTWOODS DEFENCE WASNT HAVING THE BEST OF DAYS AND WHEN THE KEEPER CAME FOR A FREEKICK AND FAILED TO LET HIS DEFENCE KNOW JEST TRIED TO HEAD CLEAR ONLY TO PUT THE BALL OVER THE KEEPER AND INTO THE NET JUST BEFORE HALF TIME FOR A DESERVED EQUALISER, THE HALF TIME TEAM TALK WAS ANYTHING BUT QUIET AS THE MANAGER RIPPED INTO HIS PLAYERS AND ESPECIALY KEEPER CROSKERY BUT IT SEEMED TO GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER AS IT TOOK A GOOD TWENTY MINUTES FOR THE TEAM TO GET GOING AGAIN AND BY THIS TIME COMBER HAD TAKEN THE LEAD THROUGH MORE SLACK DEFENDING LEAVING THEIR STRIKER AN EASY FINSISH FROM 8 YARDS OUT

BRENTWOOD NOW KNEW IT WAS TIME TO LIFT THEIR GAME AND GRADUALLY MADE INROADS TO THE COMBER GOAL . GREAT WORK FROM McDOWELL AND MULLIGAN SENT MAINE RACING CLEAR TO SEND THE BALL HOME OFF THE POST FOR 3-3 SOON AFTER SIBLEY SAW RED AFTER PUSHING A COMBER PLAYER TO THE GROUND AFTER THE SAME PLAYER HAD WENT IN STUDS UP IN A VERY DANGEROUS TACKLE UNFORTUNATLEY THE REF FAILED TO EVEN BOOK THE COMBER PLAYER INSTEAD SENDING SIBLEY OFF. GOING DOWN TO TEN MEN SEEMED TO MAKE THE BRENTWOOD PLAYERS EVEN MORE DETERMINED TO WIN AND SOON THEY WERE 4-3 AHEAD AFTER BEATTIE POKED HOME FROM A McMURRAY THROW IN ANOTHER CLOSE FINISH FROM RUSSEL MADE IT FIVE AND McMURRAY SCORED THE GOAL OF THE DAY RUNNING FROM THE HALF WAY LINE BEATING THREE PLAYERS AND SMASHING THE BALL HIGH INTO THE NET FROM 25 YARDS FOR THE SIXTH , COMBER PULLED ONE BACK FROM A FREE KICK IN THE DYING SECONDS BUT BRENTWOOD HELD ON TO STAY TOP OF THE LEAGUE 

A FIRST DEFEAT  FOR THE FIRSTS ON SATURDAY IN THE JUNIOR SHIELD LOSING 0-1 TO HARRYVILLE HOMERS AFTER EXTRA TIME . A VERY DISSAPOINTING DISPLAY ACCORDING TO THE MANAGER WITH EVERYONE BAR ROBBO IN GOALS  NOT DOING THEMSELVES JUSTICE THE ATTITUDE SEEMED TO BE WHY TRY WHEN WE ARENT GOING TO WIN THE SHIELD ANYWAY WHICH IS NO USE AT ALL AND A BIG EFFORT WILL BE REQUIRED NEXT WEEK AGAINSR ABBEY VILLA IF WE ARE TO GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS.

COMBER YM 1 V 5 BRENTWOOD 2NDS

AS USUAL THE SECOND TEAM TOOK 45 MINUTES TO GET GOING AGAINST A VERY DETERMINED CYM TEAM ON SATURDAY . THEY WERE FIRST TO EVERY BALL AND CREATED A =LOT MORE CHANCES THAN BRENTWOOD IN THE FIRST HALF THANKFULLY THEY ONLY TOOK ONE OF THEM THANKS TO SOME BAD FINISHING. BRENTWOOD HAD CHANCES AS WELL BUT IT WAS JAMES DUNCAN WHO NETTED AFTER  A GOOD BUILD UP THE FINISH ITSELF WAS RATHER WEAK AND THE CYM KEEPER SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

TO SAY THE TEAM GOT A STERN TALKING TO AT HALF-TIME WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT  BUT THEY CERTAINLY ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY PHIL SIBLEY WHO WAS BROUGHT ON TO REPLACE DUNCAN TO TRY A PUT A BIT MORE STEEL INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK .STRAIGHT FROM THE OFF HE PUT HIMSELF ABOUT WHICH SEEMED TO GET THE REST OF THE TEAM GOING AS WELL ,

BRENTWOOD GOT THEMSELVES INTO THE LEAD AFTER A LONG THROW WAS MET BY CYM HEAD BUT HE COULDNT CLEAR PROPERLY AND MULLIGAN WAS LEFT UNMARKED TO VOLLEY HOME FROM 12 YARDS OUT. THIS REALLY LIFTED THE SPIRITS AND TEN MINS LATER AFTER CHRIS MAINE WAS PUT IN THE CLEAR THE REF AWARDED A PENALTY AFTER HE WAS CHOPPED DOWN JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO SHOOT RAB McLEAN HAD HIS PENALTY WELL SAVED BUT WAS FIRST TO REACT TO THE FOLLOW UP FOR 3-1. COMBER HEADS STARTED TO DROP AFTER THIS AND IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE BRENTWOOD WHO ADDED TO THEIR TALLY AND THEY DID JUST THAT WHEN JONNY CONNOR WHO WAS CAUSING COMBER ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS FOUND MAINE WHO POKED HOME FOR HIS 8TH GOAL OF THE SEASON IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES BEATTIE WAS PUT CLEAR AND DESPITE CALLS FOR OFFSIDE HE COOLY BEAT THE KEEPER FOR 5-1 ... MUCH BETTER IN THE SECOND HALF BUT WE CANT KEEP STARTING SO SLOWLY OR OUR LUCK WILL RUN OUT  ITS COMBER YM AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND THEY WILL BE LOOKING REVENGE SO ANOTHER BIG EFFORT NEEDED

TOP PERFORMERS WERE PHIL SIBLEY- JONNY CONNOR

BRENTWOOD KEPT UP THEIR UNBEATEN RECORD WITH A HARD FOUGHT VICTORY AGAINST 82ND OB. AFTER LEADING ONE NIL AND CRUISING THEY FOUND THEMSELVES 2-1 DOWN WITH 20 MINS LEFT AND ALSO HAVING THEIR KEEPER TAKEN OFF INJURED . SO CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE PLAYERS FOR FINDING THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE GAME AND GET THREE GOALS LATE ON  THE SCORERS - RICKY BARTLET - STUART McLEAN (3)

BANGOR RGRS IV 1 V BRENTWOOD II 3

ANOTHER TOUGH GAME IN WHICH BWOOD COULD HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES TRAILING BY 2 OR 3 GOALS AT THE BREAK AFTER A POOR FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE BUT INSTEAD FOUND THEMSELVES 2-1 AHEAD THANKS TO SOME GREAT PLAY BY CHRIS MAINE SCORING TWICE . THE SECOND HALF WAS MUCH BETTER WITH BRENTWOOD LIMITING BANGOR TO 2 SHOTS ON TARGET  ,,,WHILE WOOD WERENT CREATING TOO MANY CHANCES EITHER THEY ALWAYS LOOKED MORE DANGEROUS AND WHEN KENNY ORR FOUND MAINE FROM A CORNER HE BRILLANTLY HEADED HOME AT THE NEAR POST EVEN WITH THREE PLAYERS ROUND HIM. MORE COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED BUT THE GAME WAS IN TRUTH OVER WITH 20 MINS LEFT AND IT FIZZLED OUT FOR A 3-1 VICTORY

SAT THE 13TH WAS A GREAT DAY FOR BOTH BRENTWOOD TEAMS AS THE FIRSTS OVERCAME PREMIERSHIP SIDE NORTH DOWN IN THE BILLY ALLEN SHIELD 3-1 WITH STUART McLEAN(2) AND JASON JOHNSON GRABBING THE GOALS..AFTER JONNY TATE HAD GIVEN N DOWN A 1-0 HALF TIME ADVANTAGE , THE SECONDS GOT OFF TO THE PERFECT START IN THE LEAGUE CAMPAIGN THRASHING NEWTOWN FOREST 8-1 ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE CONDSIDERING THEY HAD A MASSIVE 40 ATTEMPTS ON GOAL 28 ON TARGET AND 12 OFF  CHRIS MAYNE GRABBED 4 GOALS WITH JEST,LYTTLE,SIBLEY AND ATTIBOE GETTING THE OTHERS

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A GREAT WIN FOR THE FIRSTS ON TUESDAY AGAINST A STRONG HOLYWOOD SIDE  THE FIRST HALF LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED WITH NEITHER TEAM DOING ANYTHING .THE SECOND HALF SAW BRENTWOOD TURN UP THE HEAT...AND START TO REALLY TROUBLE THE HOME TEAM THE OPENING GOAL CAME FROM A JOHNSON FREE KICK THAT WAS PERFECTLY PLACED ONTO McLEANS HEAD FOR AN EASY FINISH THE SECOND CAME AFTER A BRILLANT MOVE INVOLVING BARTLET WHITE AND McLEAN WHO FINISHED COOLY FROM 10 YARDS THE THIRD CAME IN THE FINAL MINUTE WHEN BRENTWOOD BROKE AWAY WHEN HOLYWOOD WERE PUTTING PRESSURE ON McLEAN FOUND MILLIGAN UNMARKED AND HE NUT MEGGED THE KEEPER. A GREAT BATTLING PERFORMANCE IN THE SECOND HALF WITH SOME GOOD FOOTBALL WITH MORE GREAT PERFORMANCES FROM BARTLET WHITE AND JONNY ROY

A GOOD START FOT BRENTWOOD IN THEIR FIRST LEAGUE GAME BUT NOT A GREAT PERFORMANCE WHICH WASNT HELPED BY THE FACT THAT BOTH FIRST CHOICE STRIKERS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND JASON JOHNSON WENT OFF INJURED AFTER ONLY 10 MINUTES ,THIS UPSET THINGS A BIT AND ALTHOUGH IT WASNT A GREAT DISPLAY BY THE HOME TEAM STRANMILLIS NEVER REALLY LOOKED THAT DANGEROUS.

BRENTWOOD TOOK THE LEAD EARLY WHEN JOHNSON DONE WELL TO GET HIS HEAD TO THE BALL AS IT WAS GOING OUT OF PLAY IT REBOUNDE OFF THE BAR HIT THEIR DEFENDER IN THE FACE AND WENT IN FOR 1-0(NO JASON YOUR NOT CLAIMING IT)..THE HOME SIDE CONTINUED TO PRESS BUT WITHOUT ANY REAL EDGE AND IT WASNT UNTIL 10 MINS BEFORE THE BREAK THEY GOT THE SECOND GREAT WORK ON THE RIGHT BY BARTLET FOUND WHITE WHO RACED AWAY AND DRILLED THE BALL ALONG THE SIX YARD BOX TO McLEAN WHO MADE IT 2-0

THE SECOND HALF WAS GOING THE SAME WAY AS THE FIRST WHEN McBLAINE MADE IT 3-0 BACK HEELING THE BALL IN AFTER A LONG THROW HAD BEEN FLICKED ONTO HIM. BRENTWOOD HOWEVER WENT TO SLEEP FOR 15 MINUTES ALLOWING THEIR OPPONENTS TO SCORE TWICE BOTH GOALS COMING FROM COMICAL DEFENDING , LUCKILY FOR BRENTWOOD 3 MINUTES AFTER THEIR SECOND JONNY ROY LET FLY FROM 30 YARDS AND THE BALL FLEW INTO THE TOP CORNER TO EASE THE NERVES OF THE MANAGER. BRENTWOOD SARTED TO IMPROVE AGAIN AND MORE GREAT PLAY FROM ROBERT WHITE ON THE WING WAS FINISHED BY McBLAINE FOR HIS SECOND AND BRENTWOODS FIFTH , MORE GOALS COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED BUT IT WAS 37TH WHO GOT THE FINAL GOAL WITH 10 MINS LEFT.

NOT A GREAT DISPLAY BUT SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS WITH TOP DISPLAYS FROM RAB WHITE AND JONNY ROY

A DECENT WIN FOR THE FIRSTS ON SATURDAY AGAINST A MIXTURE OF BRYANSBURNS SECONDS AND THIRDS

5 - 3 THE FINAL SCORE BUT IN TRUTH IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE BUT FOR SLACK FINISHING AND LOSS OF CONCENTRATION . BRENTWOOD WERE ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF THE GAME IN THE FIRST HALF BUT FROM TIME TO TIME WENT TO SLEEP ALLOWING THEIR OPPONENTS TO CAUSE SOME TROUBLE. THE FIRST GOAL CAME FROM A GREAT CROSS FIELD BALL FROM STEVEN McLEAN FOUND STUART BEATTIE WHO CALMLY FINISHED FROM TEN YARDS  ,BRENTWOOD CONTINUE TO PRESS ESPECIALLY DOWN THE RIGHT THROUGH WHITE AND HODGSON WITH RICKY BARTLETT AND AARAN CLELAND IMPRESSING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK, A LONG THROW FROM McLEAN WAS FLICKED ON  BY BEATTIE WHO FOUND ALAN HODGSON AT THE BACK POST WITH A FREE HEADER FOR TWO NIL. GOOD WORK ON THE LEFT FROM BRYANSBURN REDUCED THE DEFECIT  WHEN THEIR STRIKER WAS PUT THRIUGH ON GOAL FROM AN ANGLE  CURTIS PERHAPS LEFT HIS LINE TO EARLY AND MADE IT EASY FOR THEIR PLAYER TO CHIP OVER HIM AND LEAVE AN EASY TAP IN TO AN EMPTY NET. BEATTIE MADE IT THREE RIGHT ON HALF TIME WITH A CLOSE RANGE HEADER. HT 3-1

BRENTWOOD REALLY UPPED THE TEMPO FOR THE FIRST TWENTY MIUTES IN THE SECOND HALF AND BURN COULD BARELY GET OUT OF THEIR OWN HALF WITH SOME NEAT FOOTBALL BEING PLAYED BY THE HOME SIDE BUT POOR FINISHING STOPPED THEM FROM ADDING MORE GOALS , THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BRYANSBURN WERE BACK IN THE GAME AFTER A DEFENSIVE MIX UP  LEFT AN EASY FINISH FOR THEIR FRONTMAN THIS SEEMED TO ROCK BRENTWOOD FOR A WHILE AND BURN TOOK ADVANTAGE AND LEVELLED THE SCORES WHEN THE BURN STRIKER WAS PUT FREE FOR HIS HAT-TRICK. BRENTWOOD HOWEVER STEPPED BACK UP A GEAR AND WHEN A CORNER FROM McLEAN WAS HEADED BACK ACROSS GOAL BY WARNOCK BEATTIE MADE NO MISTAKE FOR HIS HAT-TRICK. SOON AFTER GOOD WORK BY WARNOCK AGAIN FOUND BARTLETT WHO BEAT HIS MARKER AND DRILLED HOME LOW INTO THE CORNER FOR 5-3 , FURTHER CHANCES CAME AND WENT MOST NOTABLE WAS BEATTIES MISS FROM THREE YARD WITH AN OPEN NET HE SOMEHOW PUT THE BALL OUT FOR A THROW. OVERALL A GOOD SOLID PERFORMANCE WITH SOME GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYED AT TIMES INCLUDING TOP PERFORMANCES FROM ROBERT WHITE RICKY BARTLETT AND AARAN CLELAND

A GREAT CONFIDENCE BOOSTER FOR THE FIRST TEAM AHEAD OF THE OPENING LEAGUE MATCH ON SATURDAY. BRENTWOOD CERTAINLY TOOK THEIR TIME GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THEIR AMATEUR LEAGUE OPPONENTS AS THE FIRST 25 MINUTES SAW ALL THE PRESSURE COMING FROM THE HOME SIDE AND ONLY SOME LAST DITCH TACKLES AND SOME LUCK KEPT THEM AT BAY. K/LEAGH EVENTUALLY GOT IN FRONT FROM A FREE KICK SWUNG INTO THE AREA MET BY A K/LEAGH HEAD WHICH WENT STRAIGHT OVER THE KEEPER WHO HAD COME OF HIS LINE BUT JUDGED THE BALL COMPLETLEY WRONG..BRENTWOOD WERE JUST GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE GAME WHEN THEY FELL BEHIND FURTHER GOOD WORK DOWN THE LEFT FOUND THEIR WINGER WHO DROVEINTO THE FAR CORNER FOR 2-0.

BRENTWOOD THOUGH FOUND A HIGHER GEAR AND STARTED TO FIND A FEW OPENINGS THEMSELVES AND JUST BEFORE HALF TIME A GREAT TEAM MOVE FOUND JASON JOHNSON WHO LOBBED THE BALL OVER THE ON RUSHING KEEPER AND BEATTIE DID THE REST TO MAKE IT 2-1 HT

THE SECOND HALF SAW A FEW CHANGES FOR BOTH SIDES AND A MUCH MORE EVEN SECOND HALF ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE GOOD CHANCES WERE FALLING TO BRENTWOOD AND THEY WERE REWARDED WITH TEN MINUTES TO GO WHEN A SUPERB THROUGH BALL FROM McBLAIN FOUND MILBY WHO EASILY ROUNDED THE KEEPER AND SLOTTED HOME FOR 2-2