Cray Wanderers suffered their first defeat of the season as they were outplayed by a Brentwood Town team who also went into the game unbeaten at a sunny Flamingo Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
With centre backs Tom Bonner and Remi Sutton both missing, this proved to be a game too many for Cray after a great start to their season.
The game started with The Wands going close when Nods Bobomurodov cut the ball back from the by-line, but it went just behind Chris Dickson who had raced into the box.
The home team did take the lead on 12 minutes, when from a Brentwood corner, Prosper Keto played a long ball upfield to Josh Williams and he raced clear before coolly slotting the ball past Melvin Minter for 1-0.
Dickson fired over soon after following good work by Ashley Nzala, before the visitors came back into things with Romel Royal heading over from a set piece.
Bodomurodiv had a shot saved by Minter, but as the half went on it was all Brentwood and they were awarded a penlaty when Kymani Thomas was brought down in the box. Daniel Ogunleye stepped up to take the spot kick, but Harry Seaden made a great save and the ball was cleared for a corner.
From the corner the visitors were not denied though, as Ogunleye headed home unmarked from six yards out to make it 1-1 on 33 minutes.
For the final ten minutes of the half Brentwood pressed for the go ahead goal, laying siege to The Wands’ goal. Wyan Reid, Andrew Freeman, Ogunleye, Thomas and Max Hudson all went close, before Jamie Watson cleared another chance off the line and Royal was brilliantly denied by Seaden from another corner, making another save.
The second half saw Cray have a decent spell at the start, but from the hour mark it was all Brentwood. Former Wanderer Charlie Edwards went close, before the visitors made it 2-1 when Royal headed home a Hudson corner, again with the home defence static.
Soon after it was 3-1 when Ogunleye crossed for Benas Valvada to convert at the far post after a quick break up field. Frankie Raymond was then caught on the ball by Edwards and his shot from range deflected past Seaden for 4-1 on 75 minutes.
George Brooke was just off target for The Wands on a rare break, before Charlee Hughes went close twice for Brentwood, testing the busy Seaden.
The final goal came in injury time when Sam Park’s free kick from out wide caught Seaden out and dropped in just under the bar to end the game 5-1 to Brentwood.
Tim O’Shea now has to pick his team up ahead of their FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at home to Hanwell Town next Saturday.
Cray – Seaden, Keto, Nzala (Adaja 45), Raymond, Bobomurodov (Ihiedi 67), Williams, Taylor, Allen (Jackson 73), Watson, Dickson (Brooke 68), O-Gyamera.
Subs Not Used: Kardel.
Brentwood – Minter, Reid (Nzengo 82), Royal, Cripps, Ogunleye, Edwards, Olukolu (Hughes 62), Cole (Park 78), Johnson (Harvest 75), Thomas (Valvada 59), Hudson.
Goals: CWFC – Williams 12mins BTFC – Ogunleye 33, Royal 63, Valvada 71, Edwards 74, Park 90mins.
Att: 627
Referee: Joe Burgess