In his programme notes Keith McMahon described Brentwood as one of his pre season title favourites and it was clear to see by their performance on Tuesday night, but the Mead boss will be furious that his side did not grab at least a point from this game.

For the opening half hour of this encounter Mead controlled proceedings with Scott Mulholland pulling the strings in midfield. With just 2 minutes on the clock Ashley Probets directed his cross towards Andy Constable whose header lacked the sufficient power to trouble keeper Andy Hall.

The Big number 10 again threatened the Brentwood goal 5 minutes later. Danny Moore teed the ball up for Alex Tiesse whose knock down veered towards Constable but as he shaped to shoot Hall was quick to get down and smother the ball at his feet.

The ever threatening goal duly arrived with 14 minutes on the clock, Probets cross from deep on the left was perfect and the onrushing Raphael Momodu latched onto the loose ball and let fly to leave the ball brushing defender off Dean Pennant and into the net.

From the half hour mark the Essex club seemed to step up a gear and a taste of what was to come duly materialised as Joao Carlos made good inroads down the left before smashing the ball into the side netting. On 33 minutes Brentwood were back on level terms, Dee Okojie’s deft throughball was picked up by Nick Muir who with an ice cool finish despatched the ball beyond the reach of Sam Mott.

Within 4 minutes The Blues doubled their lead. Despite his close attention Mulholland failed to make his challenge count and Ryan Doyle cleverly spun round and with the most exquisite of finishes curled the ball past Mott and into the net.

The visitors should have increased their lead 5 minutes into the second half, Muir’s centre picked out Ellis Remi but instead of pouncing with a simple header he contrived to attempt a scissor kick that drifted wide.

This miss looked set to be punished moments later. Mulholland was left pole axed on the left hand side of the box, and from the resulting free kick, Robbie Tarrant steered the ball towards the far post, and with his marker completely missing it, James Campbell was left with just keeper Hall to beat only to rifle his shot across the face of the goal.

Mead were soon back on the attack with a slick three man move, Raphael Momodu played in Marcos Perona who turn set up Constable who skied his effort.

At the other end Muir paved open two fine opportunities, firstly his cross field pass was blasted across the goal by Carlos, and then after his corner was only partially cleared by the Mead rearguard, Ryan Doyle aimed his strike over the bar.

In the final 10 minutes Mead had appeals for a handball turned down by the referee after Momodu had laid the ball into the box and then following Perona’s corner, Constable saw his glancing header drift wide.

Mead: Mott, R. Momodu, Probets, Moore (G. Momodu 88), Campbell, Tozer, Mulholland, Perona, Tiesse, Constable, Tarrant (Smith 77). Subs not used: McGeehan, Briggs, Lewis