Brentwood Town finish their final Ryman League North game with a 2-0 away loss to Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road.
Despite Heybridge ruing an early second half chance from the spot as Sam West’s penalty was saved.
A three minute Billy Hunt brace separated the sides, as Brentwood made five changes ahead of their now confirmed away play-off semi-final against AFC Sudbury on Wednesday evening.
Heybridge had the first chance 12 minutes in as a corner was headed out to the edge of the box, as Shamido Pedulu lashed a shot which rocketed off the crossbar.
Brentwood had their first opportunity, from a long throw which came off a Heybridge player to put Conor Hogan in down the left- he cut inside and his shot at the near post was saved by Danny Sambridge.
Heybridge almost scored from a free-kick as it was whipped in to Sam West whose unmarked header was straight at Sam Cole.
With a goal mouth scramble in the Heybridge box, Brentwood nearly scored as Tom Richardson rose and beat the keeper in the air, but was cleared off the line by the defender and away from danger.
Heybridge were in on goal six minutes before the break as Pedulu lobbed Sam Cole and as he went to tuck the ball in Louis Baucutt was back to head it away for a corner.
The home side got a penalty seven minutes into the second half as Christian Mbulu pulled Billy Hunt’s judged by the referee. West stepped up and Brentwood keeper Cole guessed the right way to save low down to his left.
From the resulting corner Cole went to punch the ball clear but went down injured, play continued and the Heybridge player’s shot hit Cole on the floor and was eventually cleared so Cole could receive treatment.
Brentwood won a free-kick out wide on the edge of the box, Louis Baucutt stepped up and whipped it in near post which had to be parried by Sambridge.
Heybridge took the lead 72 minutes as Tyler Hayes slotted in Hunt down the left, running away from goal- on the turn rifled a left foot shot into the top corner at the near post.
The host doubled their lead three minutes later, after a long ball up to Jack West to hold the ball up and laid it off for Hunt to strike just outside the box and caught Cole off guard.
Heybridge held off any Brentwood pressure to claim three points and finish off the last league game of the season, with a respectable 12th league finish.
Heybridge Swifts Lineup: Danny Sambridge, Bradley James (79), Tyler Hayes, Daniel Barber ©, Damien Green, Sam West, Shamido Pedulu, Sam Ashford, Jack West (77), George Cocklin, Billy Hunt (88)
Substitutes: Aaron Gayle (77), Louis Monk (79), Dominic Rowe, Conor Perkins, Thomas Cocklin (88)
Brentwood Town Lineup: Sam Cole, Christian Mbulu, Louis Baucutt, Adam Rooke, Ryan O’Rawe (45), Tommy Oliver, Jason Dobbs, Daryl Robson (45), Connor Hogan (75), Tom Richardson, Michael Osei
Substitutes: Danny Dafter (45), Danny Aldwinckle (45), Jack Gardner, Shad Ngandu (75), Ollie Bowles
Attendance: 217
