Brentwood completed their season with a 1-0 win that guaranteed them fifth place in the Essex Senior League.

They only managed 21 points last season in finishing tenth and this result gave them a final total of 53 league points for the season, a great improvement.

Brentwood started the first half sluggishly and with only a minute played Rob Henry was thwarted by Blues goalkeeper Dave Pether after the Hullbridge player ran onto an excellent pass from Neal Hughes.

From the resulting corner Keith Pullen headed against Brentwood's crossbar and the home side did not get into their stride until the 22nd minute when James Grandison set up Dave Allen for their first real goal attempt.

Apart from a chance for Wayne Gannon, Brentwood had few more opportunities although they improved as the first half progressed.

Blues began to get on top early in the second half but most of their best opportunities fell to their veteran midfield player John Taylor, a player not noted for his finishing.

Brentwood almost fell behind following an uncharacteristic error from centre back Kevin Garneys, but Hullbridge forwards John Leek and Luke Slatford failed to capitalise on the chance.

The winner came in the 65th minute when the persistence of Gannon on the left led to a cross into the visitor's penalty area where Dave Stittle was first to react and shoot the ball into the corner of the goal for his 17th win of the season.

Gannon hit a post as Brentwood looked to increase their lead and, despite some late pressure from Hullbridge, they finished deserved winners.

Brentwood: Pether, Grandison, Brewington, Garneys, Read, Allen, Mead, Fairweather, Stittle, Gannon (Evans), Taylor (Hitchcock).

Brentwood Reserves also completed their league programme on Saturday as they won 2-1 at Aveley Reserves, the side who had already won the league championship.

Gary Webb and Rowan Chuck scored Brentwood's goals and this victory lifted them into second place in the Essex & Herts Border Combination Division One East, although they will now have to wait for other results before they know if they have secured a top three position will see them promoted to next season's Premier Division.

Brentwood do the double

WOODFORD TOWN.................................0

BRENTWOOD ..........................................1

(Schweppes Essex Senior League)

When these two sides met at the Brentwood Centre in October two injury time penalties gave Brentwood a 4-3 victory.

This time a Kevin Garneys header in the 93rd minute saw Blues take the three points once more but if they were rather fortunate to win the first game they deserved to win this encounter, and should have secured the victory much earlier.

It was a poor game on a poor playing surface and the game marred by a succession of free kicks and fouls and the home side's ill discipline saw two of their team sent off in the second half.

Garneys had the ball in the net following a corner in the first minute of the first half but this effort was ruled out for handball.

Although Brentwood continued to dominate and forced a number of corners they failed to produce their usual passing football and chances were rare.

Dave Stittle should have put Brentwood ahead early in the second half when he had two opportunities to beat Wayne Young in the Woodford goal but on each occasion he failed to make the chance count.

After 65 minutes Stittle and Jason Fairweather combined in the best move of the match to set up Wayne Gannon but his shot flew just wide of the left hand post.

The deciding goal came from yet another free kick, Garneys meeting Dave Allen's kick from the left to score from close range.

Brentwood: Pether, Grandison, Brewington, Garneys, Read, Allen, Mead, Fairweather, Stittle, Gannon, Simpkins (Evans).

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