Ryman Div 1N: Brentwood 2 Romford 1

Brentwood Town sealed a well-deserved victory and a vital three points against neighbours Romford thanks to Sam Bantick’s 85th-minute goal.

Boro substitute Nick Reynolds had cancelled out Martyn Stokes’ opener, but the visitors were outplayed for the majority of the encounter.

And Bantick sealed Brentwood’s first win since January 14 with an excellent strike five minutes from time, moving them seven points clear of the drop zone.

Romford striker Ryan Imbert tried his luck from distance virtually straight from kick off, but it was Brentwood who had the better of the first half.

The first real chance didn’t come until the 26th minute, when the crossbar denied Junior Luke’s superb 30-yard strike.

Boro remained level thanks to Matt Toms who cleared Courtney White’s shot off the line shortly before half-time.

Paul Martin introduced Reynolds at the break to help test Brentwood ‘keeper Dean Neil, but it was Romford’s Aaron Omand who was doing all the work as home side remained on top.

And they were almost ahead inside the first two minutes when White’s excellent pass cut open the Boro defence, putting Alex Akrofi one on one with Omand, but the Romford ‘keeper made an expert save to deny the winger.

There was nothing Omand could do to stop Brentwood taking the lead with just over an hour played, though, as Stokes converted Matt Hall’s free kick with a tap-in at the back post.

Martin’s men sparked into life after going behind and almost responded straight from the restart when Abs Seymour went through on goal and jinked his way round Neil, but the former Brentwood midfielder’s shot was off target.

However, after their best period of the game, the equaliser came in the 75th minute when the ball fell kindly to Reynolds who made no mistake from six yards to score for the second match running.

But it was Bantick, playing only his second game since his return to Brentwood, who had the final word with an excellent angled drive, bringing an end to the Blues’ seven-game winless run and increasing their chances of beating the drop.

Romford will look to put derby defeat behind them when they visit Waltham Abbey tomorrow for their third game in six days.

Romford: Omand, Ottley, Woodward (Jones 78), Dicks, Toms, Clayton, Norris, Seymour, Whitnell (Reynolds 45), Imbert, Ishmail.

Unused subs: Hart, Barry, Truman.