Brentwood Sport
Brentwood Town 5 Leyton 0
11:56am Thursday 26th August 2010
BRENTWOOD caught Leyton cold with two goals in the opening nine minutes as they cruised to a convincing opening day victory.
With centre back Darren Blewitt suspended for the start of the season, Brentwood manager Les Whitton secured the signing, on Thursday, of experienced defender Nikki Beale, from Great Wakering Rovers.
He made his debut at the back alongside Reiss Noel.
The first shot at goal came from Leyton’s Stefan Cox, but Brentwood were soon pushing forward and took the lead in the fifth minute.
A free-kick from the right wing, taken by Joao Carlos, was met by Anthony Ryan, who headed into the corner to score on his Ryman League debut for the home side.
Two minutes later, Carlos was fouled in the area and, after a delay, he converted the penalty himself, giving Leyton keeper David Tope Okeowo no chance of saving.
The visitors looked shocked, but nearly hit back in the 11th minute when Ryan cleared a shot from Enoch Akosah off his own goal line.
Cox then had a good chance for Leyton, but shot over the bar.
Cox was a threat on the wing and central midfielder Akosah also impressed for Leyton, but Brentwood could have increased their lead before half-time. Dee Okojie put Ryan through in the 30th minute, but he was denied by a fine tackle from Akosah.
Then Nick Muir’s pass saw Ellis Remy in the clear only to shoot just wide of the far post.
Any doubt over the destiny of the points ended when Remy headed the third goal into the top corner from a Ryan cross in the 52nd minute.
Ryan suffered a knock and was replaced by sub Petrit Elbi in the 62nd minute. Elbi had the ball in the net within two minutes.
Muir hit a terrific shot from distance that hit an upright and Elbi headed in the rebound, only to be ruled offside.
Elbi was, however, involved in the fourth goal, riding a tackle and setting up Muir for a simple tap-in.
Carlos completed the scoring in the last minute with an assured finish from Okojie’s pass to complete a good afternoon for Brentwood that saw them top of the Ryman North table after the first round of matches.