Brentwood Town grabbed their first and vital point of the New Year in their search for survival, after a 1-1 draw against in form local rivals Billericay Town at New Lodge.
Billericay Town extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games thanks to a second half equaliser from Teddy Nesbitt, after he finally broke the Brentwood defence.
Despite Brentwood who gained the advantage in the first half, through Ryan O’Rawe to give the local neighbours the lead.
Mike Flanagan brought in three new signings for Brentwood who all featured, as Ollie Bowles returned in between the sticks on loan from Concord Rangers. Lewis Knight cames in to sure up the defence from Chatham Town and Petrit Elbi from Aveley to strengthen ‘The Blues’ at the other end.
Craig Edwards had an introduction of his own, as he brought in Jordan Cox from Braintree Town to add to Billericay’s strike force.
Billericay almost broke the deadlock 15 minutes in, as Connor Hubble’s strike from outside the box was heading goalwards but for Ryan O’Rawe to direct it over the bar.
The home side should have taken the lead 25 minutes in, as Billericay’s new signing Cox was put through on goal but his shot on the edge of the box went just wide.
Brentwood took the lead on the half hour mark, as Mitch Hahn’s free kick came back off the post and into the path of O’Rawe who tapped in the rebound from close range.
In the second half, Billericay equalised on the hour mark, as Quentin Monville did well to keep the ball in and whipped a deep ball into the box – which was not dealt with by Bowles to fall to Nesbitt at the far post to fire home.
Brentwood threatened through Elbi’s flick on for Tom Richardson, who burst goal bound cut back inside for his shot which went wide.
Billericay could have snatched the three points at the death in injury time, as substitute Glen Poole’s corner went through everyone in the six-yard box and Brentwood cleared – to hold on for an important point.
Billericay Lineup: 1 Jack Giddens, 2 Ibrahim Diallo, 3 Alex Stephenson, 4 Connor Hubble, 5 Joe Ellul, 6 George Beavan, 7 Quentin Monville, 8 Frankie Curley © (81), 9 Jordan Cox, 10 Tom Derry (67), 11 Teddy Nesbitt
Substitutes: 12 Hafeez Sanusi, 14 Onome Sodje (67), 15 Glenn Poole (81), 16 Cliff Akurang
Brentwood Town Lineup: 1 Ollie Bowles, 2 Connor Hogan, 3 Louis Baucutt, 4 Connor Witherspoon, 5 Ryan O’Rawe, 6 Lewis Knight, 7 Andrew Freeman (85), 8 Mitch Hahn (87), 9 Tom Richardson, 10 Petrit Elbi (68), 11 Shad Ngandu
Substitutes: 12 Sherwin Stanley (68), 14 Robbie Rees (85), 15 Bradley Nobbs (87), 16 Joshua Banton, 17 Chris Manangu
Craig Edwards Interview:
Mike Flanagan Interview:
