James Gannon made just one change from the side that impressed against Cheltenham. For once it was a welcome change with the fit-again Danny Boshell returning to the mix in the place of Dean Crowe. There was also a welcome return for Mickael Wolski who gained a place on the bench.

Despite media speculation on the contrary Jermaine Easter was free to start, although he had been linked with a move to rivals Wycombe.

Some early pressure from County had the home fans off their seats as first Jermaine Easter and then Keith Briggs went close.

Indeed there was only one side in this game in the early 15 minutes as County won three consecutive corners in a period of sustained dominance. Both Hamshaw and Singh were sharp on the wings and some delicate passes were made in the middle of the park as The Hatter's impressed.

Quite unjustly though and in typical County fashion they fell behind when Brenford made a counter-attack .The imposing figure of Lloyd Owusu chipped James Spencer on the edge of the 18 yard box to send the Bees fans into raptuous applause.

County nearly had the equaliser seconds later when Damian Allen played a neat ball into the box , Keith Briggs beat his man to get a low shot in on goal, which went agonisingly wide.

Moments later and the home side were deservedly back on level terms when Keith Briggs fed the ball through field to Jermaine Easter, who slotted home from inside the area with confidence.

The progress made under Gannon was plain to see as as the players oozed with confidence. Indeed judging by organisation and communication  alone you would think this was a different team from the one that languishes at the bottom of the Football League.

Seven minutes before the break County nearly had the lead when some delightful football from  skipper, Matty Hamshaw saw the former Sheffield Wednesday man find Jermain Easter in space and the much sought after striker was desperately unlucky not to score, as he saw his chance crash against the crossbar.

County's good work was almost undone of the stroke of half time when last years cup hero Dudley Campbell was set free in the County penalty area, but the former Yeading striker wasted a seeminglly simple chance to score.

Second Half

Moments into the second half and Edgeley Park was struk with pandamodium as Keith Briggs headed the home side ahead following an excellent Matty Hamshaw corner.

At the other end Brentford nearly got a quick equaliser when Lloyd Owusu crossed into the area and former Wimbledon man, Marcus Gayle was just inches from sparing the Bee's embarassment.

County started to lose the momentum as Brentford started to put on the pressure, and in one defining moment Lloyd Owusu went desperately close when he headed wide from a Campbell cross.

Following a good Damian Allen effort at the home end, The Bees went on the counter-attack and scored in contoversial circumstances. James Spencer had initially saved the effort with a good reflex reaction save, before Campbell shot from the rebound. Damian Allen had looked to have cleard the ball, but the referee gave the goal much to the protests of James Spencer.

As both sides went in search of the winning goal, it was certainly Brentford who were on top. Despite the gradual improvement in County's overall performance the defence was again out of sorts. A succesion of corners from The Bees saw County clinging on  to this one, as they struggled to clear the ball.

At the other end there were calls for a penalty when Jermaine Easter was pulled down in the area, but the referee waved the protests away.

At the other end, Brentford finally breached the County defence when Isiah Rankin brought the ball down and hit it first time from just inches out, to break the hearts of the County faithful.

Despite a late flurry from The Hatter's which saw keeper James Spencer enter the fray it wasn't to be. Despite that this was a spirited performance and will give James Gannon another notch to his credibility as the next County manager.

County: (4-5-1) Spencer, Clare, Robinson, Allen, Raynes, Williams, Hamshaw, Briggs (Wolski 69), Easter, Singh, Boshell (Le Fondre 69)

Subs: Dje, Tunnicliffe, Crowe.

Brentford: Nelson, O'Connor, Sodje, Turner, Newman, Brooker (Rankin 60), Owusu, Hutchinson, Gayle (Frampton 69), Tillan, Campbell.

Subs: Bankole,Mousinho, Lewis,

Website Man of the Match: Damian Allen. Been a revelation under James Gannon.

Ref: K.Wright

Att: 4,079