Bostik League Premier Division
BILLERICAY TOWN 6 BURGESS HILL TOWN 1
Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from the AGP Arena
Billericay Town won their third league match in row, with what was ultimately a comfortable victory at home to Burgess Hill Town – partly thanks to a very inspired half time substitution by boss Glenn Tamplin.
In the second minute of the match Blues had a big shout for a penalty when Jermaine Pennant looked to have been fouled just inside the box, but the claims were waved away by referee Lewis Smith. A couple of minutes later the ex-Arsenal and Liverpool winger was brought down, this time just outside the penalty area and this time the referee deemed it to be worthy of a free kick, which Pennant himself crossed into the area. The ball was met by the towering figure of centre half Rob Swaine, and he headed to Burgess Hill goalkeeper Max Huxter’s right but the ball went just wide.
Ricay took the lead in the seventh minute, some good flowing football ending with a thunderous right foot strike from Rob Evans, following good work down the right flank from Ricky Modeste to make it 1-0 to the home side. The Blues were pushing for a second goal but were sometimes giving the ball away rather carelessly, and on the quarter of an hour mark the Hillians had their first shot on goal from big centre forward Brandon Diau, but his rather tame strike went wide of Alan Julian’s goal. Seconds later at the other end Billy Bricknell set up a good chance for his strike partner Jake Robinson, who narrowly failed to connect.
Pennant was working tirelessly down the left flank, and came close to setting up a second goal after 20 minutes when he crossed he ball to Modeste, the tricky former Dover and Chelmsford winger’s effort only just going wide. But it was the visitors who grabbed an equaliser against the run of play on 23 minutes, when midfielder James Richmond rose to back flick the ball with his head and into the back of the net.
Another Pennant cross in the 33rd minute was met by Robinson in he penalty area, but Huxter managed to save at his feet. A few minutes later Pennant himself had an effort blocked after catching Huxter off his line – Bricknell going close from the follow up – then on 39 minutes Robinson fired over the bar as Billericay struggled to regain the lead. Robinson then hit the left hand post just before half time, with a low right footed strike from outside the area.
After the break Blues striker Adam Cunnington, introduced as a substitute along with debutant Elliot Kebbie made an immediate impact with a good chance which went just wide, but he put his side in front shortly afterwards with a shot from a similar angle which went past Huxter into the left corner of the net. Not long afterwards Bricknell hit the bar, before Cunnington nodded home his second and Ricay’s third. In the 57th minute a great long pass from the lively Sam Deering on the halfway line found Bricknell in the penalty area, who once again was unlucky not to add to the Blues’ tally.
In the 68th minute, Cunnington made it 4-1 with a fairly straightforward tap-in to the right of Huxter to seal his hat-trick. Burgess Hill, though largely outplayed were eager to keep going and came close to a second just after the restart, but they were finding it increasingly hard to break down a home side showing a lot more cohesion than in the first 45 minutes. Robinson nearly scored when he found himself in a one on one with Huxter, but his first time effort was saved by the visiting keeper.
Billericay were then awarded a penalty on 77 minutes when Deering was clearly fouled, having made a darting run into the penalty box. Bricknell, having worked hard all afternoon finally added his name to the scoresheet as he made no mistake with the spot kick to make it 5-1 to the Blues. The title favourites were not finished yet though as in the final seconds of injury time Deering, who had worked tirelessly throughout the match slotted the ball past Huxter, who conceded his sixth of the afternoon.
The victory takes Billericay up to second place in the league behind Harrow Borough, who are the only side with a 100% record. Tamplin will be looking for more of the same on Monday, when he and his side make the short trip to Thurrock for a Bank Holiday Essex derby (K/O 3pm).
Billericay Town: Julian, Foley, Konchesky, Chambers, Swaine, Deering, Pennant (Waldren 67), Evans (Kebbie 46), Modeste (Cunnington 46), Robinson.
Burgess Hill Town: Huxter, Taylor, Fisk, Bolton, Toure (Harding 74), Richmond, Harding, Adelukan, Diau, Smith-Joseph (Johnson 63), Brivio (Bennett 83).
Attendance: 1,110
