An injury-time winner from Craig Reed sent Brentwood Town into the fourth qualifying of the FA Cup for the first time in their recent history, after coming from behind to win 2-1 over a courageous 10-man Hoddesdon Town.
The visitors Hoddesdon, stunned Brentwood to take a shock lead in the final third of the game as Ricky Light’s deflected shot found its way in.
Brentwood responded shortly after from a headed own goal by Charlie Edwards as it found its way into the top corner.
The home side grasped the victory in the dying embers of the match, as Reed’s half-volley was belted into the top corner, to put Brentwood into the next round.
Jack Bartlett then saw red, shortly after Brentwood lead with a dangerous tackle which sent him to the stands’ with moments remaining.
Dean Holdsworth named an unchanged starting XI in the goalless draw against their counterparts, Hoddesdon on Saturday.
Brentwood had the first real opportunity 20 minutes in, as a free-kick by Mitch Hahn was punched to Leon Fisher – who knocked it forward for Ryan O’Rawe to flick goalwards which had to be palmed away by Reece Buck.
Hoddesdon then had an opening at the other end, as Joss Lillis was given the ball out wide – he then cut it back for Ricky Light to meet, but lashed his shot over the bar.
Neither side gave much away in the first half in the cagey encounter, as both sides were determined not to concede.
In the second half, Brentwood had a great chance from a half cleared corner as Fisher’s shot just outside the box was blocked by the Hoddesdon defender and deflected just wide.
Hoddesdon then had the best chance of the match, as Brett O’Connor darted into the box slipped the ball through to Tommy Wade whose shot was well saved by Guest and cleared.
Brentwood then went down the other end and a cross from Hahn was helped goalwards by O’Rawe and had to be palmed away from safety by Buck.
‘The Lilywhites’ took the lead 73 minutes in, as a long ball up by Hoddesdon caught Brentwood napping. Wade then laid it off for Light to strike which deflected and Guest could not keep it out.
Brentwood then equalised just two minutes later, as a central Hahn’s free-kick was lifted into the box which Ngandu went up to head goalwards but came off Charlie Edwards for Hoddesdon and into the top corner.
‘The Blues’ then grabbed an almighty important goal in the second minute of injury-time, newbie Reed had the ball fall sweetly for him to hit a half-volley just inside the box into the top corner.
Shortly after the restart, Bartlett was sent off for a serious foul on substitute Sam Lechmere to leave Hoddesdon down to 10-men, with seconds remaining.
Brentwood then held off the last onslaught from Hoddesdon to reach the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time and will travel away to Didcot Town in the next round.
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Martyn Guest, 2 Martyn Stokes ©, 3 Andrew Freeman, 4 Nicky Symons, 5 Paul Goodacre, 6 Ryan O’Rawe, 7 Mitch Hahn, 8 Shad Ngandu (82), 9 Craig Reed, 10 Jamie Guy, 11 Leon Fisher
Substitutes: 12 Liam Hope, 14 Sam Lechmere (82), 15 Jordan Holdsworth, 16 Connor Hogan, 17 Tom Richardson, 18 Josh Banton, 19 Charlie Portway
Hoddesdon Town Lineup: 1 Reece Buck, 2 Ollie Sharman, 3 Ed Taylor, 4 Phil Lowen, 5 Jack Bartlett, 6 Ryan McMenemy, 7 Ricky Light, 8 Joss Lillis, 9 Tommy Wade, 10 Charlie Edwards, 11 Brett O’Connor
Substitutes: 12 Glenn Draper, 14 Mark Twumasi, 15 Connor Scully, 16 Dan Ferrigno, 17 Max Mitchell, 18 Harry Spicer, 19 Lee Robinson (GK)
Attendance: 294
Interview with Assistant Manager Steve Portway:
