Essex Senior Cup Quarter-final
BILLERICAY TOWN 1 TILBURY 1
(score after 90 minutes – Tilbury won 4-2 on penalties)

Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from New Lodge

Billericay Town were surprisingly knocked out of the Essex Senior Cup by Ryman League Division One North opponents Tilbury, having lead by a goal to nil for almost the entire 90 minutes and having created the bulk of opportunities in the match.

Prior to the tie, Blues manager Craig Edwards had spoken of wanting a positive response after Saturday’s disappointing Ryman Premier League defeat at table topping Bognor Regis Town, a game in which Edwards felt his side were “robbed” thanks to some dubious decisions by the officials. Meanwhile Tilbury – managed by ex-Billericay player Gary Henty and who are currently 3 points off the play-off spots in the Ryman League Division One North – were looking for an upset against the ambitious Premier Division club.

The Blues were without prolific striker Billy Bricknell, who had represented his previous club Chelmsford City in the competition earlier this season before moving to Billericay. Abs Seymour and Jimmy Shepherd were similarly cup-tied.

The home side took an early lead. Lewis Taafe’s 6th minute cross found striker Goldy Capela, who fired home his 9th goal of the season for the Blues in all competitions.

Blues fans could have been forgiven for thinking Capela’s strike was the first of many, but it was not to prove the case in a game where there were few clear cut chances and plenty of wild shots off target. Ricay seemed to be dictating the play from long periods though, and manager Craig Edwards’ frustration at his side’s inability to kill off the tie became increasingly apparent as the 90 minutes progressed.

Tilbury found the back of the net in the 25th minute, Joe Nightingill having one of the Dockers’ few efforts on target during the 90 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. Capela had a chance to double his tally when Kam Guthny laid the ball on for him, Conor Hubble had a couple of efforts on target and Kresh Krasniqi had an effort punched away by Tilbury’s former Leyton Orient goalkeeper Lee Butcher, but the teams went in at the interval with just the one early goal separating them.

In the second half Ricay came close to making it 2-0 in the 62nd minute, but Butcher managed to parry away Blues left back Oliver Sprague’s corner. A minute later the home side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, which was met by centre half Danny Fitzsimons who glanced the ball just wide with his head.

In the 84th minute, just after Capela had another effort saved by Butcher – this time a header from Blues substitute Quentin Monville’s cross – Tilbury scored something of a surprise equaliser. Reece Hewitt, one of the Dockers’ three second half substitutes spotted Ricay keeper Jack Giddens off his line, and lobbed the ball over his head from outside the edge of the penalty area and into the back of the net to make the tie level.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages but it was 1-1 at the end of normal time, so the match was then decided via a penalty shootout. Krasniqi and Luke Moore both scored for Ricay but Guthmy’s rather tame sidefooted effort was saved by Butcher, and Taafe fired his effort wide. Meanwhile Tilbury scored all four of their spot kicks with Lewis Francis, Jack Carlile, Danny Smith and Hewitt securing their side a place in the semi-finals.

Billericay return to Ryman Premier League action this Saturday, and will look to restore some positivity with a potentially tough trip to Suffolk to face 5th placed Leiston.