By JOHN CHUBB
Billericay Town’s Wembley dream is over, after they were well beaten by National League South outfit Wealdstone this afternoon.
After his side’s midweek Bostik Premier League defeat by Folkestone Invicta Blues’ owner/manager Glenn Tamplin threatened to sack himself if they lost today’s tie, so it remains to be seen if he will remain in charge of the team after this performance.
Billericay had an early attack with top scorer Jake Robinson almost scoring as early as the third minute, but his shot struck the bar instead.
On 11 minutes the Stones had a good chance with Bradley Bubb firing in a powerful shot, but the former Ebbsfleet forward’s effort was pushed away by home goalkeeper Alan Julian.
But Bubb made no mistake 9 minutes later, when he broke through and this time slotted the ball past Julian to make it 1-0 to the Middlesex outfit.
Ricay bounced back not long after, Rob Swaine’s 27th minute close range header bringing the score level again but their joy only lasted two minutes, as Bubb grabbed his second goal and put Wealdstone back in the lead.
But things were to get even worse for the home team. In the 38th minute Ricky Wellard made it 3-1 to the visitors when he smashed the ball home from close range, then two minutes before half time the Stones added an extraordinary fourth when Matty Whichelow scored directly from a corner.
Robinson almost reduced the deficit in injury time though, his effort being well stopped by Wealdstone goalkeeper Jonathan North.
Billericay used all three substitutions at half time with Calum Butcher, Jamie O’Hara and Billy Bricknell coming on to create a more attacking formation. But the visitors added to their lead only four minutes after the restart, Bubb securing his hat trick and making the score 5-1.
Robinson, Swaine, Sam Deering and Dean Inman all had chances as Blues came back into the game and had the better of things going towards the final quarter. Their perseverance was rewarded in the 66th minute, when Ricky Modeste headed home at the back post for the home side’s second goal.
On 71 minutes Ricay’s attempt to reduce the deficit further was thwarted by North, who made a great save from a Bricknell free kick. After the game entered injury time North stopped another home effort, this time from Deering but Wealdstone were home and dry by this point, and go through to the semi-finals.
Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Joe Kizzi, Robbie Evans (Billy Bricknell 46), Dean Inman, Rob Swaine, Sam Deering, Danny Waldren (Calum Butcher 46), Matt Paine (Jamie O’Hara 46), Ricky Modeste, Jake Robinson, Adam Cunnington.
Wealdstone: Jonathan North, Reagan Ogle, Jerome Okimo, Glenn Wilson, Eddie Oshodi, Sam Cox, Matty Whichelow, Ricky Wellard, Mustafa Tiryaki (Dan Fitchett 78), Daniel Green, Bradley Bubb (Harry Goodger 86).
Attendance: 1823
