Although three moments of individual brilliance stood out in Brantham' 2-0 win at the Leisure centre over Lakenheath, Imps coach Alex Drennan praised the collective effort of the team.

Kai Fletcher scored an excellent solo goal on the opening moments, Finn Shorten saved a penalty and teenager Reece Josselyn came off the bench to hit a cracker and wrap up the three points.

Kai Fletcher strokes in early goal for Brantham (Picture: Ian Parker)

Drennan revealed his getting off to a quick start was part of the game plan after doing their homework on Lakenheath.

"We got off to really good start, " said Drennan. "We had looked before the game at how many goals Lakenheath had conceded and we said to anticipate mistakes and we got on the front foot.

"In fairness Lakenheath didn't fall apart and there was nothing between the teams in the first half and into the second."

With player/manager Pip Boyand marshalling the defence and skipper James Lee helping to shore up the midfield Brantham restricted The Flyers.

Drennan added: "It was very tight and without creating chances they had a lot of entries into our box which we had to stand up to and be counted.

"They were very direct and we had to stand up and be counted. It was a collective effort and our players showed a lot of resilience and organisation.

"Although they concede a lot, they score a lot too, so to get a clean sheet against them showed how good we can be."

Finn Shorten in action before saving a penalty (Picture: Ian Parker)

The biggest concern came in the second half when a foul was ruled to be inside the Brantham box but Shorten made an excellent penalty save, down low to his left to push away from just inside a post.

Drennan hailed his keeper's response after conceding five at Mulbarton the previous Saturday.

He said: "Finn didn't have many saves to make in open play but after he took a little bit of stick the week before, he showed great character, standing up when we needed him most.

"It was a massive save and it gave us a fresh impetus for the last 15 minutes or so. They found a new injection of energy."

The Imps had decent chances to get a second with Fletcher scorning a one on one, while Jack Baker, Louie Bloom and James Lee all went close.

But it was an inspired substation that brought about the settler.

Shotley boy Josselyn replaced Fletcher and five minutes from time his an absolute corker from a seemingly impossible angle to find the top corner at the far post.

Bit blurry but shows how tight the angle was for Josselyn's goal (Picture: Nub News)

"I'm not sure I can take any credit for that," admitted Drennan, who was delighted for the teenager. "He is not meant to be able to score from that angle.. The aim was to bring him on as Lakenheath were tiring at the back. Reece has a lot of pace and we wanted them to run into the channels.

"Reece has had a couple of injuries of late and has been a bit despondent about things as it has been challenging for him. This is a reminder to him as young lad how quickly things can change."

Drennan also admitted the importance of bouncing back from that 5-0 at Mulbarton.

He said: "That was demoralising as I felt we had got away from being a eft touch as we had been in the early part of the season.It was too easy for Mulbarton and we gifted them goals and it was a real kick in the teeth.

" I feared we were reverting back but we showed this is difficult place to come.

"We have a run of home games to come and we need to make them count and make this a fortress, certain not a soft touch place."

Brantham's Jack Baker returning to Hadleigh for etra spicy Boxing Day derby (Picture: Ian Parker)

Brantham make the short trip to Hadleigh on Boxing day morning (11am kick off) and Drennan sed it as alocla derby they can get something from.

"There is not a lot of difference between us and we want to be chasing them down," he said.

"A lot of the players know each other and Jack going back will add a little more heat.

"We can go there with a lot of confidence now, and we need to show away that we have the same resilience and organisation we showed today."

After that Brantham have five homes games and a trip to Long Melford over the next six matches, but Drennan is sure his players will enjoy Christmas Day with family and friends but be prepared.

He said: They can relax a little but I'm sure they will look after themselves as we have a lot of games coming up."

Reece Josselyn scored (Picture: Ian Parker)