Brentwood last aside their recent bad form to record an emphatic victory at Wadham Lodge on Saturday.
Having lost their last six games, conceding twenty-three goals, Brentwood were in the unusual position of going into the match as underdogs against an Eton Manor side who have been at the wrong end of the league table in recent seasons.
For the second successive season this fixture produced six goals. Last season's game finished 3-3 with Brentwood striker Paul Battram scoring a second half hat trick. That feat was emulated by Riki Holmes on Saturday, the 17 year old finding top form with three opportunist goals.
Brentwood got the best possible start when Iain Smith scored his first ever goal for the first team, beating Kevin Smith in the Manor goal from fully 35 yards in the fifth minute of the game.
Manor looked strong in midfield, especially going forward, with Paul Tresadern, Cas Hoy and Noel Duff impressing, and they began to put Brentwood under some pressure as the first half progressed.
Hoy set up Brad Knapman for a shot which Dave Pether in the Brentwood goal saved at the foot of the post.
From the corner Paul Brewington blocked a fierce shot by James Aringe but Manor were level on 30 minutes. Pether saved well with his legs from Aringe but Knapman was on hand to convert the second chance.
Five minutes later Brentwood regained the lead with an excellent move started by Jason Fairweather. He found Holmes who beat his man and pulled the ball back for fellow striker Gary Douglas who swept the ball into the roof of the net.
Holmes was denied a goal by a Smith save early in the second half but he opened his account in the 55th minute, scoring from close in after Smith had only half saved a fierce cross shot from Douglas.
Aringe wasted a chance for Manor and Pether saved well from a Franco Tagliamonto header before Brentwood made the game safe after a fine move in the 75th minute.
Ashby and Fairweather set up the chance for Holmes to expertly lob the advancing Smith.
Holmes then completed the hat trick when he scored from close in after keeper Smith had failed to deal with a Fairweather free kick from the left.
Published Wednesday October 23, 2002
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