Disappointment for the Blues as they fell to a well-drilled Leatherhead side, ending their own 24-match unbeaten streak in the process.
We’ve been covering matches at Blunts Wall Road but we’ve never seen anything like tonight before. With two hours to go the ground was buzzing with reporters and TV crews (the match was televised live on BT Sport) – but we still managed to get a few minutes with Blues gaffer Glenn Tamplin who talked about what today’s match means to him.
Click here to hear his thoughts:
As predicted, tickets for tonight sold out with over an hour to go. A full house of 3,400 – a record for a home competitive fixtures – managed to beat the Billericay traffic choas and squeeze themselves into the ground in time for the 7.45pm kick off. Tonight’s crowd beat the previous home attendance record of 3,193, set against Farnborough Town in the FA Vase in March 1976, when the Blues were on the way to the first of three FA Vase victories in four years.
The first half was a dour affair with no goals and few chances. Robinson had an early shout for an improbable penalty and then both he and Cunnington went close before a 30 yarder from Theophanous went the wrong side of the post. A Moore shot was the best chance for the visitors.
Things opened up more in the second half with chances at both ends. Cunnington broke the deadlock after 60 minutes, sliding in from close range after good work from Robinson on the right.
The lead lasted just five minutes when Midson headed home an equaliser for the visitors.
Robinson should have made it 2-1 to Billericay two minutes later but fired over from close range.
The game threatened to boil over on 70 minutes after an incident involving several players from both sides – Waldren and Midson receiving yellow cards.
Disaster struck on 77 minutes when Midson again broke clear in the Billericay box and was tripped by Swaine, who received a straight red for the challenge. Midson sent Julian the wrong way to make it 2-1.
Julian denied Midson a hat trick with a fantastic close-range save but with the game opening up, Moore added a third for Leatherhead.
The Tanners go to Wycombe Wanderers in the second round, while Billericay are left to concentrate on regaining top spot in the Bostik League. They travel to Harlow Town on Saturday.
Billericay Town: Julian, Chambers, Konchesky (capt), Foley, Swaine, Deering, Pennant, Evans, Theophanous, Robinson, Cunnington.
Subs: Bricknell, Modeste, Giddens, Paine, Urquhart, Waldren
Leatherhead: Oualah, Clohessy, Richards, Ambroisine, Nnamani, Minshull (capt), Blackman, Moore, Theobalds, Midson, McManus.
Subs: Gallager, Wood, Seager, Wynter, Bronski
