Preview: Waltham Forest v Brentwood Town

With the start of the 2016-17 Essex Senior League season just under four weeks away, Waltham Forest take to the field for their first pre-season friendly this evening.

The opponents are former Forest manager Tony Ievoli’s Brentwood Town.

Brentwood were relegated from the Isthmian Premier at the first time of asking last season, finishing 22nd out of 24 teams, and winning just one of their last 12 games.

Ievoli, who managed Forest during the 2008-9 season was with Wadham Lodge last year, where he guided them to an impressive 6th place in their debut Essex Senior League season.

He was appointed Blues boss in May 2016, taking over from Mike Flanagan.

Ievoli has been coy on his squad for the coming season, but admitted he faced an uphill battle as only “five or six” of last season’s squad decided to remain at the Brentwood Arena.

With both teams still early in their pre-season preparations, it is unlikely that full-strength teams will be fielded this evening, but it will be an interesting encounter nonetheless.

The two teams have met once previously in pre-season. In 2002, Leyton Pennant (then in the Ryman League Division 1) took on Brentwood (then Essex Senior) at the Brentwood Area, with Pennant shading a even match.

You can follow tonight’s match live on twitter: @walthamforestfc.