TOWN'S play-off hopes were dented after a 2-1 home defeat against Brentford today.

The Mariners bossed the first half and took the lead through a Danny North header. The Mariners had enough chances to have gone into the break with a comfortable advantage.

Peter Till twice went close for the Mariners. Firstly he broke clear down the middle but his powerful low shot was saved by Brown. The he rose well to get on the end of a Hegarty corner but his effort went just over the bar.

But a poor second half performance allowed Brentford to snatch a win with goals from Alan Connell and Wayne Brown.

Ryan Bennett spurned a great chance on 61 minutes but his shot from 12 yards was blazed over the bar.

Paul Bolland and Rob Atkinson, who both picked up knocks in the 2-1 win at Mansfield on Saturday, were both missing from the starting line up.

Bolland eventually limped out of the League 2 clash at Field Mill, while Rob Atkinson came off in the second half with a hip problem.

James Hunt came in for Bolland and Ryan Bennett is the natural replacement for Atkinson at the heart of the Town defence.

GOAL! After a spell of sustained pressure the Mariners took the lead on 18 minutes. After some good work down the left, Hegarty whipped the ball across goal for North to glance a header past Brown and into the corner of the net.

Half-Time: Town 1 Brentford 0

GOAL! After some sloppy play by Town Brentford drew level on 51 minutes. A cross from the right was met by an unmarked Connell to finish past Barnes.

Town: Barnes, Clarke, Hegarty, Bennett, Fenton, Newey, Hunt, Boshell, Till, North, Butler.

Subs: Atkinson, Taylor, Jones, Toner, Montgomery.