Brentwood Town end their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Ryman North side Harlow Town at the Brentwood Arena.
Ryan O’Rawe took the lead for the home side just before the break with a header. In the second half Harlow were awarded a penalty early in the second half which Alex Read converted from the spot.
Brentwood almost broke the deadlock 13 minutes in, as Robbie Rees cut inside across the box to lay it back to Shad Ngandu who returned the ball for Rees but his shot was dragged wide.
A Long clearance by Johnny Bulter put Mitch Hahn in out wide, he lifted the ball into the box for Rees to run on too but he could not slip the ball past the keeper.
O’Rawe denied Harlow the lead just after the half hour mark. A great last ditch clearance was hooked off the line by the centre back, to keep the score goalless.
New face, Jared Small whipped in a ball at the by-line – which came to Rees to cut the ball back for centre back Butler and his shot was held by the Harlow keeper.
Brentwood should have taken the lead as Ngandu switched the play to Tom Richardson whose first time ball across goal was met by Small at the far post which was saved at close range by the Harlow keeper.
‘The Blues’ took the lead two minutes before the break from the resulting corner, Hahn’s ball in was converted by O’Rawe at the far post, despite a hand from the keeper.
Brentwood made three changes in the second half as Michael Asombalonga, Daryl Robson and Ade Cole replaced Johnny Butler, Shad Ngandu and Jared Small.
Harlow equalised five minutes in, as Brentwood substitute Michael Asombalonga went sliding in on Junior inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Read stepped up for Harlow and tucked-in from the spot passed Guest to equalise.
Just under the hour mark Rees out wide went to cross the ball which was over-hit and became a shot as the Harlow keeper, at full stretch palmed it clear.
Hahn’s long throw for substitute Martyn Stokes was flicked on but was parried to substitute Louis Baucutt with an open goal but his shot was over.
Substitutes slowed the game down in the second half as the game concluded in a draw.
Brentwood will now set their stool up for next week’s Ryman Premier opener away at Wingate and Finchley.
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Martyn Guest (74), 2 Richie Jones, 3 Dave Collins (73), 5 Ryan O’Rawe © (66), 4 Johnny Butler (45), 10 Mitch Hahn, 11 Robbie Rees (69), 8 Shad Ngandu (45), 9 Tom Richardson (85), 6 Nicky Symons (81), 7 Jared Small (45)
Substitutes: 14 Jordan Holdsworth (69), 18 Louis Baucutt (73), 12 Ade Cole (45), 17 Daryl Robson (45), 20, 15 Martyn Stokes (66), Matt Gill (74), 16 Michael Asombalonga (45), 20 Harrison Yates (85), Tom Bradshaw (81)
Attendance: 101
Dean Holdsworth Interview:
