Town bow out of Trophy

From the archive, first published Friday 13th Apr 2007.

Tilbury 1, Brentwood Town 0

For Brentwood this was probably one cup tie too many, but they were still unlucky not to reach the Essex Thames-side Trophy final at Chadfields on Thursday night.

With little else to play for this season Tilbury were pretty much at full strength but, with an important league match on Saturday, Brentwood were unwilling to risk any players expected to start in that game. Having also had a reserve team fixture just twenty four hours earlier it was a rather makeshift side that took the field.

The line up included Wayne Gannon in his first game for the club for two years and, indeed, it was quite a nostalgic night for Brentwood supporters with Dave Stittle coming on in the second half for his first appearance in the 1st team for a couple of years, and at left back was Chris Charlery, son of Des Charlery, a Brentwood forward in the mid 90s.

Charlery looked impressive in a defence that performed well, with another youngster, Ben Sullivan, at right back, and Callum Foley and Alan Lethbridge in the centre.

Brentwood went close in the fifth minute when Jamie Cross cleared a header by Jimmy Noakes off the Tilbury goal line, and Jordan Tolan had the home side's best chance early on but he shot straight at keeper Phil Skelton.

Brentwood looked more than equal to their Ryman League opponents with the experienced Donovan Wilson alongside Danny Carroll, Riki Holmes and Gannon in midfield and Steve Portway partnering Noakes up front.

Noakes had two good chances early in the second half before Sullivan cleared off the Brentwood goal line and Foley made a good tackle to thwart Tilbury's Danny Jones. But this spell of Tilbury pressure was rewarded with a goal in the 69th minute when Manlee Brown sweetly volleyed into the top corner with Brentwood hoping for an offside flag.

Brentwood could easily have been given a penalty in the 80th minute when home keeper Dean Neil came out and clumsily collided with Tirion Sherbourne but it was not to be, and they were left without the reward that their efforts deserved on the night.

Brentwood Town: Philip Skelton, Donovan Wilson (Samuel Proctor 86), Chris Charlery, Alan Lethbridge, Callum Foley, Daniel Carroll (Dave Stittle 73), Ben Sullivan, Riki Holmes, Jimmy Noakes, Steve Portway (Tirion Sherborne 54), Wayne Gannon