Blues win Battle of the Blues

A brace from DD Dumaka and one each for Jay Leader and Roman Michael-Percil was enough to see off Brentwood at Mill Field on Monday afternoon in what was the Blues fourth local derby of this fledgling season,the win maintained the Blues unbeaten start to the season.

Mark Bentley made one change to the starting eleven with Roman Michael-Persil coming in for James Stevens in a changed formation for the first time this season.

Brentwood forced the first corner of the day in the opening minutes following a break by ex Blues favourite Jamie Guy but the subsequent kick was too long allowing the hosts to clear with ease.

In another Brentwood attack Fisher struck the ball well from outside area the ball beating Lamar Johnson and cannoning off the crossbar in an early let off for the Blues.

After a slow start the Blues began to assert their authority winning a corner following a quick break by Bradley Fortnum-Tomlinson eventually cleared by the visitors.

Soon after Brentwood won another corner headed clear by Jay Leader only to find 7 who should have done better when he blazed the ball high and wide.

It was all corners at this stage and it was Grays who capitalised on the next one on fourteen minutes, Jey Siva's fine kick found the head of Leader who saw his powerful header strike the underside of the bar and drop over the line to put the Blues one up.

The visitors were finding it difficult to contain the pace of Percil,Tomlinson and Dumaka and it was no surprise when this combination was instrumental in increasing the Blues advantage. Percil found himself out wide quickly rounding Freeman with ease his low cross was converted by Dumaka on sixteen minutes.

Blues were now dominating play finding time and space seemingly at will,Dumaka was proving a real handful and was unlucky with a curled effort which beat Guest and drifted just over.

Percil with his pace and close control was to be rewarded with his first goal for the club,neat interplay between Joao Carlos and Siva led to a low cross into the box the ball was deflected to Percil who hammered home for the Blues third on thirty two minutes.

Carlos should have made it four shortly after,Kenny Beaney played a defence splitting pass allowing Carlos to outpace the visitors central defenders drawing Guest off his line and with the goal at his mercy he somehow missed the target.

With a three goal cushion Blues understandably eased off the pace allowing Brentwood more of the ball although they rarely troubled Grays rearguard.

HT 0-3

Lamar Reynolds replaced Tomlinson at the start of the second period which began with Brentwood winning an early corner the ball easily cleared by Luke Ifill.

Grays were quite content to sit back and defend their advantage allowing Brentwood more possession with Guy the focal point of their attacks but he failed to capitalise on a number of chances.A deep cross found him unmarked in front of goal and should have done better with a misdirected header.

Another ex Blue Sidhu slid a neat ball to Guy but again he squandered the chance shooting wide with Johnson beaten.A third chance went begging following a poor kick from Johnson Guy rounded the keeper hitting the ball into the side netting.

Grays were in cruise mode at this stage but still looked threatening on the break Reynolds and Ifill were combining well down the right getting behind the visitors back four.

It was Reynolds who provided the pass for the Blues fourth goal beating his fullback he slid a neat ball into the box finding Dumaka who made no mistake lashing the ball into the roof of the net on eighty three minutes.

Ifill did well again down the right hitting a low shot which fizzed just wide of the post,Carlos then went close from the opposite flank cutting inside his powerful effort beating Guest and flying past the post.

In the dying moments Ifill nearly opened his account following a great run he unleashed a powerful shot that cannoned off the post and away to safety.

In the end it was a comfortable win for the Blues in a game they completely controlled,playing well within themselves they looked a class above a spirited Brentwood side who had so convincingly beaten Leatherhead in their previous match.

The win sees the Blues sitting top of the pile on goal difference from Leiston who they meet at Victory Road on Saturday in a game that at this stage of the season looks a six pointer.With mood and confidence in the camp sky high Bentley's boys need fear no one on their current form and will be going into the game looking to extend their unbeaten run.

Team Ratings

Johnson 7,Ifill 8,Leader 9,Cronin 7,Siva 7,Percil 7,Ferguson 7,Beaney 8,Carlos 7,Tomlinson 6,Dumaka 8,

Subs Reynolds 6,Agonbar 6, Stevens 6,