BRENTWOOD TOWN have won the Isthmian League North for the first time in their history in a record breaking season. 
Town had suffered heart breaking penalty shoot out defeats in two of the last three play-off Finals but this time around went straight up after chasing down both Bury Town and Felixstowe & Walton United for most of the campaign.
A club record Bank Holiday crowd of 1,467 saw Town defeat already relegated Basildon United 4-0 to clinch the title with one game to spare and were presented with the trophy and medals after the match.
It was apt that star striker Daniel Ogunleye should grab the headlines as he has done all season in a remarkable campaign, his four-goal haul taking his season tally to an incredible 43 goals. He was tight lipped on his future afterwards but he is going to be the hottest property in non-league football this summer.
The secret of the success this season has not only been scoring goals (97 in 41 games) but the ability to bounce back and win games following a setback. Some doubted the team after a heavy loss at Concord Rangers in August and again against Grays in November but Town put together long unbeaten runs after both defeats.
Off the pitch too there was heavy summer investment on a state of the art 3G pitch that undoubtedly helped the team. Attendances are up and Town were no longer playing catch up games on Tuesday nights on muddy pitches.
The success is sweet too for manager Keith Rowland, the ex-West Ham and Northern Ireland international, who trusted in bringing in players who had performed so well for him during a successful spell at Aveley.
One of those, Benas Vaivada is incredibly celebrating a third straight promotion at three different clubs and was part of the Bowers & Pitsea team that defeated Brentwood on penalties a year ago.
On the whistle thoughts of Vaivada here….
Under The Radar
Andy Gardener
Jesse Olukolu, Daniel Ogunleye and Benas Vaivada.
