By JOHN CHUBB
Billericay Town returned to the top of the league and ended their recent poor run of results, although they left it late and had to work hard against a Dorking Wanderers side who had their own fair share of opportunities in this match.
Continuing concerns about the condition of the pitch at their AGP Arena home prompted Blues to switch this game to Aveley’s Parkside stadium, where the 3G surface provided no such issues.
Blues welcomed Kevin Foley back into their side, the former Republic of Ireland defender having recovered from injury and making his first appearance since September. Wanderers included ex-Billericay midfielder Luke Moore in their line up.
Dorking had a couple of chances in the first five minutes via free kicks before Nick Wheeler had Ricay’s initial opportunity in the 11th minute, with a shot that was pushed away by the away team’s Slovakian goalkeeper Slavamir Huk.
A couple of minutes later Blues thought they had a claim for a penalty when Sam Deering went down in the box, but referee Simon Finnegan thought otherwise and play continued.
The next chance fell to Dorking with the game nearly a quarter of the way through, Dan Walker firing a shot but this was saved by Billericay keeper Alan Julian, just before Mansfield loanee Calum Butcher’s effort for Blues went just wide at the other end.
Further Ricay opportunities were thwarted by some good defensive work from the Surrey side, then with six minutes left of the first half Wanderers’ young midfielder Sam Beard had an effort on goal, but it was easily caught by Julian.
A Danny Waldren header just before half time wasn’t far over the bar, but the game remained goalless at the end of the first period.
After the break Jake Robinson had the first goalscoring effort of the second half, the Blues’ leading scorer firing just over Huk’s bar.
This sparked a period of end to end action with Walker and Tom Tolfrey both going close for Dorking, before Butcher and Robbie Evans did the same for the ‘home’ side.
Tolfrey nearly broke the deadlock on 56 minutes, but the Wanderers striker was brilliantly denied by Julian who made an excellent double save.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes Dorking were still creating chances and again came close to taking the lead, but at the opposite end Adam Cunnington went close for Ricay, Huk making a fine save from his close range effort.
Just afterwards in the 81st minute there was finally a goal. And it was the Blues fans who were celebrating, thanks to midfield man Deering who found the net from 10 yards to put his side 1-0 ahead.
Wanderers pushed hard to level the score. Sole went close, then they substituted full back Isaac Philpott for a striker in Gareth Chendlik.
And as the game entered the 90th minute Billericay’s Joe Kizzi stopped what looked like it would be the Surrey team’s equaliser on the line.
But Glenn Tamplin’s men held on, and their supporters went home happy but relieved to see their side return to winning ways.
Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Robbie Evans, Kevin Foley, Joe Kizzi, Rob Swaine, Sam Deering, Danny Waldren (Jamie O’Hara 73), Matt Paine, Nick Wheeler (Adam Cunnington 54), Calum Butcher (Ricky Modeste 67), Jake Robinson.
Dorking Wanderers: Slavamir Huk, Isaac Philpott (Gareth Chendlik 85), Chris Boulder, David Ray, Jerome Beckles, Luke Moore, Sam Beard (James O’Sullivan 68), Dan Walker, Giuseppe Sole, Tom Tolfrey (Ben Dyett 64), James McShane.
Attendance: 279
