(Photo by David Tinkler @dtinklerphotos)

Brentwood Town 5 Norwich United 2

Bostik League North

Report by Scott Lanza

Brentwood gaffer Craig Shipman was happy to see his side pick up their first win of the season but still feels his side need to play as well in the second half as they can do in the first. “At the moment we have a mentality where we play totally different in the second half,” Shipman said, adding that he felt his side: “kept the ball well in the first period, outplayed them with some passing football that was wonderful to watch,  but we didn’t hold the ball so well in the second half, which allowed Norwich to get a second goal.”

Brentwood Town delivered a first half blitzkrieg that left Norwich United reeling, but then inexperience made it a little harder form themselves as Norwich United were able to pull two goals back. However the hosts were not to be denied and closed the show with Matthew Price scoring a penalty and then rifling home in injury team to seal his hat-trick and Brentwood’s first three points of the campaign.

Harrison Georgiou and Price both linked up well in the opening stages that gave the Norwich United defence some early work. Brentwood set their stall early; they were going to pass the ball on the floor, whereas Norwich were a little more direct in their approach.

Brentwood’s build up play started to create openings and in the 14^th minute Andy Freeman had a shot blocked, the ball however fell kindly to Luke Stanley who had a second bite but Andrew Wilton was able to stop the shot. Georgiou then weaved his way through the Norwich defence but Wilton again showed good goalkeeping prowess to once again tip the shot away.

The breakthrough came in the 19^th minute when Andrew Easthaugh handled in the box, with the referee immediately awarding Brentwood a penalty. Price fired the penalty beyond Wilton and Brentwood it seemed were on their way. Anthony Page had to be at his best to tip away a Ben Jones header soon after the hosts had taken the lead.

Fine play by the hosts ripped Norwich apart and lead to the second goal in the 25^th minute. Ryan O’Rawe started the move from the back, culminating in Andy Freeman making the final pass to Georgiou who finished the move by side-footing the ball into the net. It had been a sublime piece of football but Brentwood nearly allowed Norwich to pull one back when a cross eluded Page but Freeman was on hand to smash the ball clear from danger.

However Brentwood were passing the ball confidently with Freeman the target man, who then laid the ball off to his team mates. It was no surprise when Brentwood extended their lead even further in the 37^th minute. Price held the ball up, then turned and sped past his marker before playing in Freeman who then buried the ball past Wilton.

Norwich United were able to pull one back just before the break when a cross into the box found Lawrence Cheese who controlled the ball, turned and then blasted it past Page.

Brentwood almost extended their lead inside the first minute of the second half when Price charged through the Norwich backline but Wilton rushed out and smothered the ball. Straight away Norwich attacked with Cheese having a powerful shot well saved by Page.

Brentwood have been a team of two halves so far this season and this continued as their second half display slowly, but surely allowed Norwich United to get back into it. An unnecessary diagonal pass across his own box by Cavalier fell nicely to Adam Hipperson whose shot was pushed away by Page. Speller also pounced on some slack defending but couldn’t get his shot on target.

It came as no surprise when Norwich United were finally able to pull a further goal back in the 57^th minute when Hipperson’s cross from the left flank found Ben Jones, who slotted home from close range. Brentwood had now made things difficult for themselves and from a commanding position at half-time suddenly found their opponents back from the dead and looking to get back on level terms. Shaun Wones had a header well saved by Page but then Brentwood re-found their composure and went back to their passing game. That opened up opportunities for Price to narrowly miss with a header; Freeman went even closer with a shot from just outside the box, while Luke Stanley saw a powerful shot palmed away by the Norwich custodian.

Brentwood made sure of the win in the 85^th minute when Price converted a penalty after Jack Gardner had been hauled down in the box; further polish being applied in stoppage time when Price completed his hat-trick by rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

Brentwood fully deserved their win but their second half performance very nearly unpicked the super work they had carried out in the opening half. However it posts their first league win of the season and they will now be looking to build on this in future weeks.

Brentwood Town: Anthony Page, James Pugsley (Connor Martin 53’), Luke Foster, Theo Jones, Ryan O’Rawe (Capt), Brenden Cavalier, Luke Stanley (Alfie Hilton 75’), Billy Rees, Matthew Price, Harrison Georgiou (Jack Gardner 75’), Andy Freeman.

Scorers – Matthew Price (19’p, 85’p, 90+4), Harrison Georgiou (25’), Andy Freeman (37’)

Norwich United: Andrew Wilton, Henry Pollock, Matthew Brown (Sam Watts 62’), Daniel Crosby, Shaun Wones, Andrew Eastaugh (Capt), Ben Jones, Jamie Speller, Adam Hipperson, Lawrence Cheese (Lee Will 62’), Marley Flute (Angus Mackie 65’).

Scorers – Lawrence Cheese (42’), Ben Jones (57’)