Today (Sunday) saw me over at my second play off final in the Ryman League this weekend and it was the turn of the Ryman One North as Brentwood Town hosted Thurrock in an Essex derby at The Brentwood Centre Arena.
Both teams had come through tough semi finals and were here at the surprise of some but they were there on merit so a good game was forecast. The also had been the opening game of the season back in August when 104 fans saw Thurrock run out 3-0 winners, and no doubt the visitors would of loved a repeat of this scoreline.
There were almost 800 inside the Arena as the game kicked off and there was a surprisingly subdued atmosphere as apart from two efforts on goal by the hosts not a lot else had happened in the first quarter of an hour. Thurrock’s first shot on goal came on 18 minutes when Jordan Clark turned his man but hit a weak shot at the Brentwood goal.
The hosts created the best chance by a long way so far in the game on 22 minutes when a ball squared to Bantick saw him drill an effort wide when in a good position but as the half hour mark passed the game was average at best in what was a very subdued derby match as I said earlier.
On 32 minutes Thurrock’s Wall turned and tried an effort from the edge of the box but saw it go wide and then the hosts went down the other end and saw Akrofi fire a shot into the side netting and neither keeper needed to make a save. Bantick then went on a run for the hosts and he cut inside but scuffed his shot well wide in another disappointing effort at goal.
As the half drifted towards the last five minutes or so the game perked up slightly and on 39 minutes Bantick’s free kick for the hosts was struck well towards the top corner but keeper Rhys Madden plucked it out of the air and then Thurrock went even closer as a ball whipped into the six yard box was poked over by Spence when it looked like the visitors were about to take the lead.
Two minutes before half time Brentwood defender Gardner put in a wonderful last ditch tackle to deny Carvell a shot at goal. It was a great challenge and probably a goal saving challenge too and made sure his side went in level at the half, a half that only really got going in the last few minutes of it. Not a classic by any means.
Half Time: Brentwood Town 0 Thurrock 0
Thurrock looked to build on the chances they had created at the end of the first half and created a half chance moments into the second half when Christou had an effort at goal from an angle which was easy for Bowles in the Brentwood goal but what followed in the next fifteen minutes was incredible.
The hosts took the lead four minutes into the second half when a through ball to Akrofi put the striker clear and he thumps the ball past Rhys Madden with aplomb and gave the hosts the perfect start to the half. Thurrock tried to respond and won three quick free kick’s in decent positions around the hosts box but saw two of them hit the wall and the other dragged well wide by Spence.
But then on 58 minutes Brentwood doubled their lead as Akrofi shrugged off Waters to bare down on goal and although his initial effort was saved by Rhys Madden the ball squirmed away and left Akrofi a simple tap into the empty net and put the hosts firmly in control of this tie. Then came a moment of controversy on the hour mark when Thurrock wanted a penalty as Jordan Clark went down under a challenge but the referee saw nothing wrong and booked Clark for diving, which annoyed the visitors somewhat.
This was compounded a minute later when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Akrofi was brought down by Waters who was subsequently sent off for being the last man. Akrofi picked himself up to take the spot kick and scored to make it 3-0 and also grab himself a hat trick in 13 minutes. As Thurrock were still reeling from this set back Rees ran at the Thurrock penalty area and fired a long range effort past Rhys Madden for a brilliant goal and an incredible four goals in fifteen minutes for the hosts.
The visitors looked totally shell shocked as did most of the crowd as you could not see this coming at half time. On 72 minutes another good run by Brentwood’s Bantick into the box saw him try a shot at goal but could only slice well wide of the target. Thurrock’s Goode tested hosts keeper Bowles from range but the keeper saved to his left hand side.
Bowles then made a good double save soon after to keep out Wall before another effort from Robert Clark was hit straight at the keeper as the visitors at least looked to try and finish the game with something to show. On 78 minutes that man Bantick caused Thurrock problems by cutting inside his marker but could only fire wide of the far post.
Brentwood had brought on top scorer Stanley in the second half and with five minutes remaining he got his goal and the hosts fifth of an incredible second half when he was played through and the striker slotted past Rhys Madden with ease to cap an incredible afternoon for the home side. There was one more chance for the visitors to try and grab a consolation goal when they won another free kick on the edge of the box and Robert Clark struck a great free kick but Bowles pulled off a great save to keep them out.
So Brentwood Town reach the Ryman Premier for next season and they celebrated accordingly whilst for Thurrock they must lick there wounds and go again next season.
Full Time: Brentwood Town 5 Thurrock 0
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