Brentwood Town secured a playoff place with a game to play, after a tense 2-2 draw against Chatham Town at the Brentwood Arena.
Sherwin Stanley took the lead for ‘The Blues’ in the first half, but Chatham equalised from kick off in the second half through George Humber.
The away side went infront midway through the second half with a free-kick from Joe Bingham. Substitute Sam Bantick was brought down with 9 minutes to go and Stanley stepped up to claim his brace as he converted from the spot, to secure a playoff spot after other results.
Brentwood Town got off to an immediate start 36 seconds in as Andrew Freeman’s cross was helped on by Robbie Rees but came back off the crossbar and away from danger.
‘The Blues’ had another opportunity as Rees’ cross was deflected to the far post for captain Martyn Stokes but his shot went over the bar.
The home side gained the lead 21 minutes in as a high clearance by James Love was chased down by Stanley to beat the last defender, nick the ball off the keeper and score into an empty net.
Chatham Town had a great chance to equalise, after a poor clearance by Ollie Bowles the Chatham striker attempted the shot which was deflected by Stokes but bounced just over the bar.
The visitors equalised 37 seconds into the second half as Connor French turned Stokes and slotted in Humber to tuck past Bowles.
Brentwood almost restored the lead after great play by Brentwood, Daryl Robson laid the ball off to Love whose long range shot had to be tipped over by Ryan Nicholls.
Chatham took the lead 66 minutes in as Joe Bingham’s free-kick was whipped across goal, Humber ran across Bowles which distracted him as the ball went straight in.
Brentwood were awarded a penalty with 9 minutes to go after a flick on from substitute Tom Richardson for substitute Sam Bantick, to beat the keeper to the ball but was brought down in the box by Nicholls and the referee pointed to the spot. Stanley stepped up and tucked it into the bottom right corner to equalise.
In injury-time Brentwood nearly nicked it as Bantick’s corner was helped on by substitute Christian Mbulu and Stokes on the turn shot just over the bar, to settle for a point.
Brentwood Town Lineup: Ollie Bowles, Jack Gardner, Andrew Freeman, Martyn Stokes ©, Danny Dafter (59), James Love, Jason Dobbs (72), Daryl Robson, Sherwin Stanley, Shad Ngandu, Robbie Rees (72)
Substitutes: Tom Richardson (72), Christian Mbulu (59), Louis Baucutt, Sam Bantick (72)
Chatham Town Lineup: Ryan Nicholls, Greg Benbow, Laurence Collins, Joe Loft, Liam Hickey, Lewis Knight ©, George Humber, Corey Holder, Connor French (83), joe Bingham, Kieran McCann
Substitutes: Austin Edwards (83), Jack Steventon, Jamie Taylor, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Watson
Attendance: 123
