This pre-season, friendly game was played on a gloriously hot July Saturday afternoon. The Bourne Stadium, previously known as Greatness Park, is quite basic with two small seated stands along the side of the pitch and a very small seated stand behind the goal. Car parking was free and it cost £6 to watch this game having booked a ticket in advance online, via the club website. Changing rooms, public toilets and a small cafe were all housed in portacabins, however the pitch was a high quality 3G surface and the ground is set amid housing and trees in a nice setting.

Sevenoaks play in the Isthmian League South East Division, having been promoted as Champions, from the South Eastern Counties Football League in 2017-18. Brentwood are managed by Adam Flanagan, son of Mick Flanagan, ex Charlton player. They play in the Isthmian League North Division, having spent a season in the Isthmian Premier League in 2015-16, before being relegated back into the North Division.

Sevenoaks played in blue and black striped shirts and black shorts. Brentwood played in an all orange strip. As the game started, Brentwood had all the possession and pressure from the off, spurning two clear chances. Sevenoaks made Brentwood regret their failure to convert the chances, when on the break, after ten minutes, their number four, Fowler, drilled the ball home from the edge of the area to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Brentwood continued to press and after a fine run by their number ten, the resulting save presented a follow up chance, to his fellow forward, number 9, who slotted it away for an equaliser at 1-1 after 16 minutes.

Due to the heat, the referee gave a two minute water break at 20 minutes. The players returned refreshed. As earlier, Brentwood had clear chances, but failed to execute them. Unlike the first ten minutes, Brentwood didn’t regret their missed chances. On 35 minutes the Brentwood number 8 took the ball into the area and slotted it past the Sevenoaks keeper to make it 2-1.

On 40 minutes a great run and finish from the Brentwood number 10, saw the score extend to 1-3, as the referee called half time.

The game re-started after half time, with Sevenoaks looking much stronger. On 60 minutes the Brentwood number ten broke free and was fouled in the box. The penalty was clinically despatched to make it 1-4 to Brentwood Town.

After a real effort and many chances, Sevenoaks finally got their second goal on 87 minutes when a rebound fell favourably for the Sevenoaks number 14, Atkinson, to slot away, for 2-4.