Brentwood made a good start to Saturday's game at Southend Manor, before succumbing to defeat in the final quarter of the game.

Following a spell of pressure, Brentwood actually went ahead on 20 minutes.

With play switching from left to right, the ball eventually fell to Grant Delea who made no mistake from close range, placing the ball past goalkeeper Scott Barrett and into the net.

The home side had their best moments from dead ball situations when the tall Simon Nicks and Dave Rolfe looked threatening in the air.

The Blues coped well with the situation until the 32nd minute when they conceded a free kick.

From the kick Jason Stevens drove the ball towards goal. Rob Jones got a touch with his head that looped the ball over goalkeeper Dave Pether to just under the crossbar and into the net for the equalising goal.

The first 30 minutes of the second half saw play switching from end to end and, in the 75th minute, Southend scored a fortunate goal.

Craig Mead's intended clearance struck an opponent and rebounded into the penalty area. The ball bobbled about until Jones struck it home.

Within five minutes the home side went further ahead when the events of the second goal were repeated but this time Read's clearance hit an opponent and Dave Rolfe gained possession and scored.

To rub salt in the wound the home side made it 4-1 when Ben Barnett hit a tremendous shot from 20 yards out, giving Pether no chance.

Brentwood: D. Pether, R. Chuck, M. Simpkins, L. Felstead, J. Read, C. Mead, J. Taylor, G. Delea, P. Brewington, M. Gore, D. Stittle, D. Hodgkin and I. McGowan.

Saturday sees Brentwood host Basildon in an Essex Senior League fixture (kick off 3pm).

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