Brentwood Town move back into the play-offs with a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Brightlingsea Regent.
Captain Martyn Stokes gained the lead for ‘The Blues’ with a header 25 minutes in.
The away side doubled their lead ten minutes later after a quality first time strike from Sam Bantick, which was enough to take them up to fourth.
Brentwood almost broke the deadlock with a great chance 14 minutes in, as the ball pin balled around the box and fell to Alex Akrofi but his shot on the turn was well held by Andrew Plummer.
Brightlingsea had a dangerous corner shortly after which was met by Amir Berkane but went just over the bar.
Brightlingsea made a huge appeal for handball as the ball was fired at Daryl Robson mid-drith, but the referee waved away appeals.
Brentwood took the lead 25 minutes in as a short corner by Bantick was given backed to him and clipped the ball into the box for the captain Stokes to head into the top corner.
From the restart, the home side nearly responded as a strike from Ollie Canfer was palmed away by Ollie Bowles and cleared away from danger by the Brentwood defence.
Brightlingsea missed a great opportunity to equalise as Ricky Griggs free-kick fell kindly for Phil Kelly but his shot on the turn somehow went wide from 12 yards out.
Brentwood extended their lead as Akrofi broke the back-line burst towards goal and unselfishly cut the ball to Bantick to fire in.
Brightlingsea looked to respond shortly after as Kelly’s long range strike was hooked away by an outstretched leg, to deny the home side a way back into the game.
A free-kick for the host was fizzed straight through the Brentwood defence which was spilled by Bowles but eventually cleared at the next opportunity.
Brentwood were content on sitting back and soaking up the Brightlingsea pressure and dealt with everything the hosts’ threw at Brentwood, to take all three points and move up into fourth.
Brentwood Town Lineup: Ollie Bowles, Martyn Stokes ©, Christian Mbulu, Ryan O’Rawe, Andy Freeman, James Love, Robbie Rees (87), Daryl Robson, Sam Bantick (72), Tom Richardson (76), Alex Akrofi
Substitutes: Sherwin Stanley (76), Shad Ngandu (71), Emmanuel Osei (87)
Brightlingsea Regent Lineup: A Plummer, R Griggs (80), Jo Gould ©, A Berkane, J Holman (76), M Cripps, O Canfer, J Turner, J Gordon, P Kelly, B Nelson
Substitutes: L Gandolfini, G Clarke, W Joseph (76), T Amass (80), J Heath (72)
Attendance: 138
