All seemed well in the first 20 minutes of Saturday's match with the home side producing some good passing movements and generally having the better of the play.

Then in the 23rd minute things changed when Bowers brought their height and pace into play and Brentwood had no answer.

Bowers made a break up the right, and put in an accurate cross to the head of six foot four inch David Hope who scored with a header from close range.

From this point the Blues' defensive play fell apart.

Their usual reliable goalkeeper Dave Pether had a bad day and the rest of the defence struggled to compete with their opponents advantage in height.

Hope added a second goal in the 27th minute when he outpaced the Brentwood defence and lifted the ball over Pether and into the net.

Deakin scored a third goal when the ball struck a post hit several players legs and gave a forward a simple tap in.

Hope completed his hat trick in the 44th minute when he rose above the Blues defenders to head home a corner.

Brentwood coped better with the height problem in the second half but were caught square and lacking in pace when Mully broke clear and finished well by tucking the ball under Pether into the corner of the net.

Late on the Blues were awarded a penalty when Dave Stittle was fouled in the area.

Michael Gore placed the ball in the corner of the net but the referee said the kick had to be retaken as he needed to book a Bowers player for verbal dissent.

Gore went the same way but this time goalkeeper Hardingham read the situation and tipped the ball round a post.

Brentwood: D. Pether, L. Felstead, J. Keatley (M. Simpkins), C. Mead, D. Allsop (D. Doel), J. Taylor, G. Delea, P. Brewington, G. Douglas (M Gore) and D. Stittle.

This Saturday sees Brentwood hosting Southend Manor in an Essex Senior League fixture (kick-off 2.30pm).

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