Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from the AGP Arena
Billericay Town are now potentially 90 minutes away from a place in the 1st round proper of the FA Cup – a stage the club have only reached twice before in their history – as National League South opponents Hungerford Town were brushed aside in this replay, following Saturday’s 1-1 draw in Berkshire.
Blues were once again without ex-Republic of Ireland international Kevin Foley (injured), as well as Rob Swaine and Josh Urquhart (both suspended). Ricky Modeste and Adam Cunnington returned to the starting line up ahead of Leo Chambers and Jake Robinson, both of whom had started at the weekend.
After an opening 10 minutes of little in the way of chances Billericay’s Jermaine Pennant powered up the field, passing the ball to the left and finding Louie Theophanous who set up Adam Cunnington for the best chance of the game up to that point, from which Hungerford goalkeeper Marcus Beauchamp made a fine save. This proved to be Pennant’s last contribution of the match though, as the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder was then struggling having taken a knock and so he made way for striker Billy Bricknell. Ricay then broke the deadlock in the 18th minute, Ricky Modeste crossing from the right hand side for Theophanous to score his third goal of the season.
The Crusaders then responded by putting together a few attacking moves when the opportunities arose, but on each occasion the home defence were alert and the National League South side were unable to find a way through to goal. Billericay continued to make chances, Matt Paine going close just after the half hour mark with a glancing header from a corner, which went just wide of the post.
Then in the 42nd minute Blues doubled their lead, after a move that started with Paul Konchesky passing down the left flank to Theophanous, the forward crossing to Bricknell who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-0 to the hosts. Theophanous himself almost made it 3 just before half time, his effort generating a very good save from Beauchamp.
Hungerford pulled a goal back 6 minutes into the second half, Stefan Brown netting off the post from close range and the Berkshire side were briefly pushing for an equaliser. But Ricay then pushed forward again and Theophanous missed a great chance to extend his side’s lead, when he fired well over the bar in the 57th minute. But 3 minutes later Bricknell made it 3-1 and Blues looked increasingly confident of winning the tie against the higher league opposition. And it took the former Chelmsford City centre forward just another 2 minutes to grab his hat-trick and put the tie beyond the Crusaders’ reach.
Sam Deering, who put in a characteristically hard working shift for the home side almost made the scoresheet 16 minutes from time, forcing a fine save from Beauchamp but the Hungerford keeper was beaten a minute later, when Jeremy Lynch made it 5-1 to Billericay with his first goal for the club. But the Blues were not done yet, skipper Konchesky netting via a free kick to make it 6-1 in the 83rd minute.
So it was an excellent night’s work for Glenn Tamplin’s side in which they did very well to largely outclass a side a league higher than themselves. They now go through to the 4th qualifying round and face a trip to Brackley Town of the National League North.
Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Matt Paine, Paul Konchesky, Joe Ellul, Robert Evans (Jeremy Lynch 67), Sam Deering, Jermaine Pennant (Billy Bricknell 13), Danny Waldren, Louie Theophanous, Ricky Modeste, Adam Cunnington.
Hungerford Town: Marcus Beauchamp, Rhys Taylor, Diak John, Ian Herring, Harvey Read, Scott Rees, James Clark, Jordan Simpson (James Rusby 68), Stefan Brown, Nicholas Bignall (Jermal Lawrence 68), Louis Soares.
Attendance: 1024
