Brentford's season so far has been a complete contrast to the nightmare of last term.

The Bees are currently buzzing at the top end of the Coca-Cola League One. Their last campaign, though, almost ended in disaster.

They had to clinch victory on the last day of the season to avoid relegation from the then-named Nationwide League Division Two.

They managed it in the 83rd minute at home to AFC Bournemouth thanks to Alex Rhodes and it was Grimsby Town who went down.

Grimsby had beaten Brentford 1-0 the previous week with an Isaiah Rankin goal a former Colchester player who is now one of Brentford's leading goalscorers this term.

Rhodes is among a group of players who can claim to have come through the footballing ranks the traditional way.

Last season the forward was plying his trade for Ridgeons League premier division side Newmarket Town, a total of five rungs down the ladder, before he impressed in a trial and was taken on at Griffin Park.

First-choice goalkeeper Stuart Nelson was snapped-up for £10,000 in February from Nationwide Conference North outfit Hucknall Town, while Matt Harrold, formerly of Harlow Town, and Sam Sodje, ex-Stevenage and Margate, have also been plucked out of the non-league world.

They have all played their part in this year's rip-roaring campaign that has seen them march up to fifth in the table and book an away trip to Luton Town in the third round of the FA Cup after Wednesday night's 2-1 win in their second round replay against Hinckley United.

There are not many teams in League One that would want to take on current leaders Luton in the cup, but Brentford will be confident after stinging the Hatters 2-0 at Griffin Park earlier this month.

On the scoresheet that day was Ben May.

The lofty target man is on loan at the Bees from Milwall.

The striker had already spent three months at Colchester earlier in the season.

Other former U's in the mix include Andy Myers and former captain Scott Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald saw his four-year career at Layer Road come to an end in March this year when he went out on loan at Griffin Park where he went on to sign a permanent deal in the summer.

Published Friday, December 17, 2004

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