By Martin Voller 

CHATHAM TOWN 0 – 1 BRENTWOOD TOWN

GREG Benbow’s second half own goal gifted Brentwood Town a narrow 1-0 victory over Chatham Town at Maidstone Road.

The Blues saw plenty of the ball but struggled to break down the Chats’ defence until Benbow headed Sam Bantick’s cross into his own net in the 67th minute.

The win leaves Brentwood fourth in Ryman League Division One North, level on points with third-placed Thurrock.

The Blues made three changes for the trip to Kent. Andrew Joslin came into the side after serving a one-match suspension and Martyn Stokes and Ryan O’Rawe returned in central defence after missing the loss to Biggleswade Town in the week.

The first half was a largely uneventful affair but Brentwood edged it in terms of chances.

Sherwin Stanley should have gave the Blues the lead in the 17th minute after Robbie Rees dispossessed centre-half Liam Hickey and crossed into the box but the in-form striker made a meal of the shot and Tom Wellham comfortably saved.

Chatham’s best chance fell to their top-scorer Austin Gacheru but the striker was denied by a superb lunging block by skipper Stokes.

A minute before half-time Brentwood again went close to taking the lead but Bantick was unable to turn in Marcus Milner’s cross along the six-yard box.

The Blues remained the brighter side in the second half but they struggled to create a clear-cut opportunity.

New signing Ryan McFarlane came on for Marcus Milner in the 66th minute and when play resumed Brentwood took the lead.

The home side switched off as Rees took a quick corner to Bantick and the winger’s cross was inadvertently headed into the net by Chats’ striker Benbow.

McFarlane went close to doubling Brentwood’s lead moments later but his powerful shot was parried away by Wellham at his near post.

As full-time approached Chatham upped the pressure but they were unable to rescue anything from the game as Brentwood’s resolute defence stood firm to maintain their place in the play-offs.

“It was a traditional non-league game,” said joint-boss Adam Flanagan.

He added: “You need to just roll your sleeves up, get in amongst it, battle and keep on going to the end and see if something happens and that’s what we did and we got the goal.”

The Blues now have a week to recover before next Saturday’s match at home to Soham Town Rangers.

Brentwood: Bowles, Gardner, Baucutt, Stokes, O’Rawe, Robson, Milner (McFarlane 66’), Joslin, Stanley (Lomotey 76’), Bantick (Ngandu 79’), Rees.

Unused subs: Mbulu, Dobbs.