Norwich United missed the perfect opportunity to heap more pressure on their play-off rivals when they went down at relegation-threatened Brentwood Town.

With Cheshunt and Bowers & Pitsea both losing the Planters could have moved level on points with fifth-placed Cheshunt.

But second-half goals from Ife Ogunbayo, Brendan Cavalier and Lamar Reynolds condemned the visitors to a first defeat in seven games as the race for the play-offs became more congested.

A lacklustre performance still produced chances and Adam Hipperson could have put the Planters in front before the break. The game's key moment came after 56 minutes when Christy Finch cut in from the right to strike a left-foot shot which home keeper Anthony Page tipped over. Within a minute Ogunbayo took advantage of a loose ball to strike.

This inspired the home team and as they grew in confidence first Cavalier and then Reynolds with a lovely strike sealed the victory.

Brentwood Town: Page, Cavalier, Foster, Owusu, Martin, O'Rawe, Freeman, Greenslade, Gordon (English 81), Ogunbayo (Hilder 90), Reynolds (Gyamfi 90). Unused subs: Rees, Burgess.

Norwich United: Wilton, Shipley, Brown, Mason (Wones 67), Eastaugh (L Jackson 57), Watts, Henery, Speller, Hipperson (Stewart 74), Radomski, Finch. Unused subs: Datacampol, Jones.

Referee: George Byrne. Assistants: Dean Welham & Chris Newman.

Attendance: 86