Brentwood Town make it two preseason victories out of three, with a 2-1 win over a youthful Southend United XI at the Brentwood Arena.
The visitors struck first early in the first half through Brandon Scott with a shot from inside the box. Brentwood levelled the match up shortly after as Liam Hope tucked in from close range.
Brentwood took the win late in the second half as debutant substitute Ade Cole was brought down. Shad Ngandu scored from the spot to secure the victory for ‘The Blues’.
Southend went infront 18 minutes in after a long range shot was blocked and the ball fell for Scott who bend his shot coolly into the top right corner, with Jack Norton stationary.
Brentwood Town equalised five minutes later as a long throw from Mitch Hahn beat the first defender and landed on a plate for an unmarked Hope to tap in from close range, to level.
Tom Richardson almost put ‘The Blues’ in front after a lovely long ball by Daryl Robson forced ‘The Shrimpers’ keeper to rush out, Richardson went for the shot out wide but was saved by the feet of Josh Bexon.
Another long throw by Hahn was flicked on by Martyn Stokes and nodded in by Robbie Rees, but for the offside flag which denied Brentwood the lead.
In the second half a free-kick 20 yards out by Hahn was curled goalwards at the near post which was well-held save by Bexon.
Brentwood played with confidence in the second half with long dominated periods of play as Richie Jones slotted a ball to Robbie Rees, he turned just outside the box and his shot was just wide of the target.
The home sides’ free flowing play nearly came off with a goal as substitute Shad Ngandu’s lifted ball out wide for Hahn gave him an opportunity to cut inside, as his deflected shot was spilt by Bexon but eventually cleared.
‘The Blues’ side were awarded a penalty with 11 minutes to go as replacement for Rees, Cole was brought down after some quick footwork in the box.
Ngandu stepped up and sent Bexon the wrong way to score low into the bottom left, to give Brentwood the lead.
Brentwood newbie right back Michael Asombolonga went storming down the right flank with a return inside from Jordan Holdsworth, Asombalonga’s shot and rebound was denied by a superb double save by Bexon to deny Brentwood a third goal.
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Jack Norton, 2 Richie Jones 3 Louis Baucutt (64), 4 Daryl Robson 5 Ryan O’Rawe, 4 Martyn Stokes ©, 7 Mitch Hahn (83), 11 Robbie Rees (76), 8 Shad Ngandu, 9 Liam Hope (68), 10 Tom Richardson (76), 6 Nicky Symons (45)
Substitutes: 18 Tim Pitman, 15 Jordan Holdsworth, 16 Dave Collins (64), 12 Ade Cole (76), 14 Shad Ngandu, 17 Johnny Butler (76)
Also featured: Emmanuel Osei, 11 Micheal Asombalonga, Matt Gill, Harrison Yates, Tom Bradshaw
Southend United Lineup: 13 Josh Bexon, 3 Manny Adeyeye, 5 Yago Fernandez Priesto (45), 16 Dan Matsuzaka, 2 Jordan Williams, 4 Harry Norman (62), 7 Brandon Scott, 8 Ross Johnson, 11 Nico Cotton, 10 Freddie Gard, 9 Danny Galbraith
Substitutes: 15 Harry Phillips, 12 MaCauley Keeting (83), 17 Rene Batlokwa, 14 Abdul Salami (45)
Attendance: 196
Dean Holdsworth Interview:
