Billericay Town 2-1 Truro City
East Thurrock United 1-1 Kingstonian
Brentwood Town 1-1 Tilbury
Southend United 0-1 Accrington Stanley
Cheltenham Town 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
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FULL TIME: Well, it was a slow burner on a boiling hot day, but in the end it was a cracker. Own goal, red card, dramatic finish, ridiculous misses, this game had it. Billericay just about deserved it but you can’t help feeling for Truro. I wish them well.
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-2-1-Truro-Full-Time.mp3|titles=Billericay 2-1 Truro Full Time]
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Right, next up is Tuesday evening, as East Thurrock United go to Wealdstone. Until then, enjoy the weekend, and your football
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93rd min – Adenwunmi is clean through on goal but somehow puts it wide from 15 yards!
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Injury time: 5 minutes of it, as another dangerous Billericay centre from the right flashes past the Truro goal
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89th min – GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 2, Truro City 1 That’s me tempting fate again. A run to the left byeline, a low centre, and inside the six yard box SAM LECHMERE drills home at the far post. Liquid football!
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-2-1-Truro.mp3|titles=Billericay 2-1 Truro]
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87th min – You’ve missed nothing. A lengthy delay for a Truro injury
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83rd min – In a final throw of the dice, Adenwunmi replaces the impressive Osbourn.
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78th min – Ooh, a late tackle stops a City forage in its tracks. The free kick, from around 30 yards, hits the wall.
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75th min – Harrison Chatting gets a generous round of applause as he’s replaced by Jared Small.
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72nd min – Back come Truro and a header inside the area goes about a foot past the left hand post.
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70th min – Ooh, that was close. Harrison Chatting centres from the left, and Sam Lechmere’s shot by the near post is superbly parried away by the keeper. Official attendance is 402.
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-v-Truro-Red-Card.mp3|titles=Billericay v Truro Red Card]
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67th min – Dave Collis comes on for Luke I’Anson
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65th min – All City at the moment. Corner on the right and a header just over the bar.
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63rd min – The nerves are jangling amongst the New Lodge faithful. Jake Larkins clears straight to a Truro player for the third time. Nothing comes off it but the danger signs are there.
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60th min – Billericay come forward and a cross from the left is met by a header going inches over the bar.
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58th min – A real let-off for ‘Ricay. Again. A horribly slewed clearance inside the area from Richard Halle leaves the goal open but the Truro shot is just as horribly wide.
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56th min – Billericay are in trouble now. Jay May goes in on the Turo defender with his elbow at a free kick, after being obstructed, and is sent off.
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54th min – Truro have been encouraged by that equaliser and have forced a couple of corners down the right. Nothing clear cut but worrying times for the hosts.
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48th min – GOAL! ….. Billericay Town 1, TRURO CITY 1 Blimey, game on! The visitors break down the right, the ball gets centred, and CHRIS WILD scuffs it into his own net. The Conference South’s leading scorer for the wrong reasons now but Truro won’t mind that.
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-1-1-Truro.mp3|titles=Billericay 1-1 Truro]
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4.03pm – KICK OFF! Again.
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HALF TIME: Another season but the same Billericay. Nice football in little patches, more direct and effective for the rest of the time. It gets results and the team plays to its strengths, and in a results orientated business, you won’t find me a particularly dissenting voice. Billericay have been much the better team since the goal, but Truro are by no means out of it. 1-0 is just about right.
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-v-Truro-Half-Time-Summary.mp3|titles=Billericay v Truro Half Time Summary]
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Right, off for a Bovril and Lilt. Laters.
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43rd min – Jay May tries his luck from 25 yards and forces another parry out for a corner, which comes to noithing.
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41st min – Alex Osbourn goes closer, controlling the ball on the left inside the area, and forcing a fine save from the City keeper at the near post.
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40th min – Bilericay press with some neat play involving Harrison Chatting and Nathan Green on the left. The ball is centred and a shot from Glen Poole goes just wide
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35th min- Ooh, Truro miss a golden opportunity. ‘Ricay keeper, under no pressure, kicks the ball straight at the onrushing Truro attacker, who hits the post unmarked from 15 yards. Goodness me.
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33rd min – Luke I’Anson tries to get on the act, but his chip from 20 yards drifts harmlessly wide. No doubt about it, Billericay on top.
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31st min – Even better this time. Lovely one touch football, and Glen Poole neatly plays in Alex Osbourn inside the left hand side of the area, but he mishits horribly. Nice stuff though.
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30th min –
Billericay break forward again and a nice lay back from Alex Osbourn sets up Sam Lechmere from 22 yards, who volleys over. That’s better.
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25th min –
City try to get back on terms, and a dangerous run down the right results in a low centre to the area which Nathan Green clears. At the other end, a Sam Lechmere free kick narrowly clears the trees
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21st min –
GOAL! ….. BILLERICAY TOWN 1, Truro City 0
New season, same goal! Good work from Nathan Green and Harrison Chatting on the left forces a corner. From that, CHRIS WILD powers home a header from six yards. Striker!
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-1-0-Truro-City1.mp3|titles=Billericay 1-0 Truro City]
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18th min – Really wish I could bring you action-packed action but the teams are cancelling each other out. The supporters decide to have a pop at the officials, presumably to keep them occupied until play livens up.
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13th min – Really not too much to report on. Quite evenly balanced, no clear cut chances. Jake Larkins has had to make a very comfortable save at his near post but that’s about it.
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8th min – A long through ball finds Alex Osbourn about 25 yards from goal, but he can’t quite control it, and the Truro keeper comfortably collects.
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5th min – Whilst both sides are still settling down, I’m having a look around the ground. The City fans behind at the Cricket End are in good voice. The sound better than they look, mind. Beer bellies and shirtless don’t mix. Not with blokes, anyway.
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2nd min – The first ‘What’s that for?’ from boss Craig Edwards as Jay May is pulled up for an infringement attacking down the left.
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3.01pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The teams come out to a somewhat sparse crowd. I am genuinely surprised.
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2.50pm – Team News: Billericay Town line up for life in the Conference South with: 1 – Jake Larkins. 2 – Greg Oates. 3- Nathan Green. 4 – Luke I’Anson. 5 – Richard Halle. 6 – Chris Wild. 7 – Sam Lechmere. 8 – Glen Poole. 9 – Jay May. 10 – Alex Osbourne. 11 – Harrison Chatting.
SUBS: Subs: 12 – Dave Collis. 14 – Jared Small. 15 – Adenwunmi. 16 – Craig Edwards. 17 – Dale Brightly.
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2.45pm – Crikey, the Truro lads look big! Anyway, whatever today’s result, I hope the team representing Cornwall’s ‘capital’ can come through their latest crisis. We’ve seen throughout the summer the dire consequences of not paying your bills through the fate of the defunct Rangers and almost liquidated Pompey.
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True, bills should be paid, but as ever it’s the punters that put their money into the club – and at this level the multitude of club volunteers, doing everything for the sheer love of the game – that suffer the most. Safe journey home, Truro, whatever happens, and fingers crossed many more trips to follow.
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2.40pm – A very, very good afternoon to a sun drenched New Lodge for today’s Conference South opener. New Lodge, new season, new league, it’s very much a brave new world for ‘Ricay, their first game at this level.
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Craig Edwards has by and large kept faith with the squad that brought the club that unforgettable Ryman League title triumph, with the odd signing, such as Alex Osborn from Dagenham.
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He, the team, and a bumper crowd will have every confidence they can overcome the threat posed by the Cornish outfit, who have spent the summer in turmoil, staring liquidation and the face, and arriving at Blunts Wall Road with a threadbare squad. That could well galvanise them, though, that underdog spirit. It could be a good ‘un today.
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Elsewhere, East Thurrock start off against the same team they signed off last term with a 5-2 win against, and Brentwood Town have a tasty derby at the Arena against last season’s play-off semi-finalists Tilbury.
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[audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Billericay-v-Truro-Preview1.mp3|titles=Billericay v Truro Preview]
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As ever, keep refreshing this page every few minutes, and tune into the one and only Dave Turner on Between The Lines from 4pm, here online or on 98 FM, and this afternoon’s frolics and frivolities will be yours.
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GAME ON!
