Brentwood Town suffered a further setback in their battle to remain in the Ryman Premier, after a narrow 1-0 home defeat to rock bottom Lewes at the Brentwood Arena.
A second half strike from Henry Muggeridge was the difference between the two sides, despite Brentwood’s dominate spells means they now fall eight points off safety with four games in hand.
Mike Flanagan makes three changes to his side that lost 4-0 away to Kingstonian, Bradley Nobbs and Sam Collins were replaced by Leon Gordon and Shad Ngandu, while Connor Witherspoon had a hip injury so Marcus Milner slotted in.
The visitors had the opening glimpse of a goal, as Leon Redwood’s long range shot was comfortable for Ollie Bowles.
Lewes had the first real chance of the match, as Redwood’s free-kick almost went straight in but was helped away by Bowles and cleared by Captain Martyn Stokes.
Brentwood finished the better of the two sides, after good play from Milner and Petrit Elbi who crossed it into the path of Tom Richardson in the six-yard box but his shot was blocked.
In the second half the visitors took the lead which stunned Brentwood, as Steve Brinkhurst broke the back line out wide and his ball across was kept out by Bowles but only to Muggeridge at the far post whose shot was too strong for Bowles.
Brentwood had an opportunity to equalise shortly after the hour mark, as Elbi won the loose ball in the air and Richardson picked it up but his shot was dragged wide.
Andrew Freeman turned the ball over the Lewes defence for Richardson to run on to but his shot was straight at Chris Winterton.
‘The Blues’ nearly equalised, as Freeman burst down the left flank and whipped it in for substitute Alex Teniola to chest it down but his strike went over the bar.
Brentwood again with the offensive pressure, as Teniola flicked it on for Ngandu who slots in Richardson but his shot was comfortable for Winterton.
The home side substitute Mitch Hahn almost levelled on the half volley in the dying minutes of the game but was palmed away by Winterton, as the visitors took all three points.
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Ollie Bowles, 2 Leon Gordon, 3 Sam Cross, 4 Martyn Stokes, 5 Ryan O’Rawe, 6 Shad Ngandu, 7 Marcus Milner (58), 8 Petrit Elbi (81), 9 Tom Richardson, 10 Robbie Rees, 11 Andrew Freeman
Substitutes: 12 Mitch Hahn (81), 14 Josh Banton, 15 Alex Teniola (58), 16 Bradley Nobbs, 17 James Scammell
Lewes Lineup: 1 Chris Winterton, 2 Steve Brinkhurst, 3 Leon Redwood, 4 Lee Carey ©, 5 Stacey Freeman, 6 Alex Malins, 7 Henry Muggeridge, 8 James Hammond, 9 Josh Street (84), 10 Alex Laing, 11 Ronnie Conlon (92)
Substitutes: 12 Dee Okojie (84), 14 Yasin Ben El-Mhanni (92), 15 Jordan badger, 17 Nathan Stroomberg
Attendance: 111
