Brentwood Town keep their survival hopes alive with a superb 4-1 home victory over Hendon at the Brentwood Arena.
Brentwood opened their account for the evening in the first half with a header from Alex Teniola, which he then got his brace with a volley early in the second half.
Ben Pattie then immediately pulled it back for the visitors, as he tucked away a smart finish.
The Concord Rangers loanee Sam Bantick then scored on his return to Brentwood, which maintain their two goal cushion.
Teniola capped off Brentwood’s first win at home in five games with his hat-trick and the match ball for his fourth goal in two games.
Mike Flanagan made three changes to his side that were beaten heavily at Hampton and Richmond at the weekend as Leon Gordon and Shad Ngandu shifted to the bench.
Joshua Banton and former Blue Bantick were preferred, who returns to Brentwood for the remainder of the season. Tom Richardson also returned from injury and played ahead of the missing Robbie Rees.
Bantick on his return was at the forefront of Brentwood’s early pressure, as he found some space just outside the box to get a shot off but was tame despite Joe Wright making a hash of the collection which nearly found its way through his legs.
Brentwood started with intent due to the current position they’re in and almost broke the deadlock through a Hendon mistake, as Casey Maclaren collided with the Hendon keeper Wright which allowed Richardson to get a shot off but lifted it just wide.
‘The Blues’ took the lead 20 minutes in, after a corner from Bantick was whipped in and nodded back across goal by Richardson for Teniola to nod in from the six-yard box.
The home side then went in search of a second and nearly got it, as Bantick on the left this time managed to find room for a shot which hit the bar.
Hendon finished the half stronger and could have levelled just before the break, as Sam Murphy volleyed a ball into the box for Ben Pattie to head goalwards but Ollie Bowles had it covered.
In the second half, the hosts scored just two minutes in as Banton did went down the left to whip a ball in which was cleared only for Teniola to cannon into the tope corner on the volley.
Hendon then responded from the kick-off, as Pattie went down the left and slotted in from a tight angle – which gave the away side an immediate response.
‘The Blues’ almost grabbed their third, as the ball broke to Freeman and he lifted it over the keeper but hit the underside of the upright and was cleared.
Brentwood then went and restored their two goal lead, as Richardson was given a ball to chase he then cut inside and smashed a shot which was well-saved by Wright but only for Bantick to convert to follow up.
The home side then held-off any late onslaught from a youthful Hendon, as Brentwood finished the night with their fourth in injury time. Richardson played a great high through ball for Teniola to hunt down and control past the keeper – to seal the three points and their first win since early March.
Brentwood Town Lineup: 21 Ollie Bowles, 2 Joshua Banton, 3 Sam Cross, 4 Martyn Stokes ©, 5 Ryan O’Rawe, 20 Simon Glover, 7 Sam Bantick, 8 Connor Witherspoon, 9 Tom Richardson, 10 Alex Teniola, 11 Andrew Freeman
Substitutes: 12 Mitch Hahn, 14 Shad Ngandu, 15 Marcus Milner, 16 Leon Gordon, 17 Kevin Watson
Hendon Lineup: 1 Joe Wright, 2 Sam Flegg, 3 Oliver Sprague, 4 Dave Diedhiou, 5 Casey Maclaren (70), 6 Oliver Achille, 7 Sam Murphy, 8 Keagan Cole, 9 Kenzie Ibe (45), 10 Ben Pattie (70), 11 Nyv Bogaire
Substitutes: 12 Mahrez Bettache (45), 13 Brandon Adams (70), 14 Luke Tingey (70), 15 Jordan Spearman, 16 Kieran Warren
Attendance: 132
Interview with Brentwood Town manager Mike Flanagan:
