ROMFORD........................................1

BRENTWOOD..................................3

(Crowe Insurance East League Division One)

Brentwood won an important game against second in the table Romford on Saturday to confirm their position at the top of the Crowe Insurance League at the Christmas break.

The match was not plain sailing for the travelling side who fell behind after 10 minutes.

A moment of indecision from Darren Leppard saw him dispossessed by a Romford forward, who nearly passed another defender before being fouled with a clear chance on goal.

The resultant penalty was finished by Romford's Grant Prebble.

Brentwood stepped up their passing game and were rewarded with a goal from Matthew D'Arcy-Smith after a fine passing move.

The score remained even until the half-time break amidst some scrappy play which reflected the importance of the match to both teams.

Brentwood came out for the second half with more conviction and took the lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Rob Cousins skilfully dribbled past two defenders then pulled the ball back to Scott Reilly whose powerful flick flew high into the top of the net.

Reilly scored again soon after, when Simon Wagstaff's short corner shot rebounded off the post, and Reilly's first time shot went low past the outstretched goalkeeper and sealed the match.

Second team go nap

BRENTWOOD II...........................................5

COLCHESTER II..........................................0

(Crowe Insurance East League Division Three South East)

Brentwood Seconds' improving performances culminated in a decisive victory over a young Colchester side on Saturday.

Ian Anderson opened the scoring with a spectacular shot from the top of the 'D'.

Matthew Wright made it 2-0 from a short corner strike moments later and Anderson was again on hand to hit the target in the 20th minute to effectively make the game safe.

Constant pressure from the home side in the second half led to a fourth goal when skipper Simon Roffe's shot come cross fell to Nick Hull.

His reverse stick flick beat the Colchester goalkeeper at the near post.

Matthew Wright finished the rout, again from a short corner shot, and this result sees Brentwood into fifth position in the league.

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