Velocity Trophy Final (played at Aveley F.C.)
BILLERICAY TOWN 5 METROPOLITAN POLICE 3 (AET: 3-3 at 90 minutes)
By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm
Billericay Town secured their second item of silverware so far this season, with an extraordinary comeback after extra time against Metropolitan Police in this League Cup final having been 3-1 down with 5 minutes of normal time remaining.
Jake Robinson opens the scoring for Billericay. Photograph by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)
Following his record breaking exploits against Staines 48 hours previously- when he became the first player in the club’s history to score 52 goals in a season – Billericay’s Jake Robinson was on target again after just 12 minutes of this match, when his shot beat Thomas Williams in the Met Police goal to put the Essex side 1-0 ahead.
But 12 minutes later the Police were awarded a penalty when Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick was fouled inside the box, and Tom Bird sent Blues keeper Jack Giddens the wrong way to bring the scores level.
Not long into the second half the Billericay management made a double change, Matt Paine and Sam Deering replacing Luke Rooney and Nick Wheeler but it was Met Police who got their noses in front in the 58th minute when Hippolyte-Patrick, who had been causing Ricay all sorts of problems with his pace set up striker Jonny Wright to score.
Then just after the hour Blues failed to clear a corner and Wright pounced again, firing the ball home to make it 3-1 to the Police.
Billericay made what seemed to be a final throw of the tactical dice in the 67th minute, bringing on fresh attacking legs in the form of Adam Cunnington who replaced Liam Hughes. But the Police continued to make chase, and only a couple of fine Giddens saves prevented them from increasing their lead further.
Then after Dean Inman had gone close with a header, Blues grabbed a lifeline 3 minutes from the end when striker Billy Bricknell volleyed home.
With 4 minutes added on, the clock was ticking and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time Bricknell pounced again to bring the scores level, and take the game into extra time.
And it took just 6 minutes of the additional half hour for Bricknell to claim a hat-trick, as he big number nine smashed home to make it 4-3 and put Blues in the driving seat.
And 3 minutes later captain Danny Waldren completed an extraordinary turnaround by scoring Ricay’s 5th.
Billericay’s players celebrate with the trophy. Photograph by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)
Ricay held on to become the first side to win the Isthmian League cup twice in a row since Sutton United in 1984, and can now place another trophy alongside the Essex Senior Cup they won last month. It was clearly an extraordinary comeback, with Bricknell the star turn with his 3 goals.
Blues now hope to add the Bostik Premier League title trophy to their cabinet. With 6 games remaining they are now 5 points clear at the top, following Dulwich Hamlet’s defeat against Tonbridge Angels last night so Billericay and their supporters can feel optimistic of this happening.
Billericay Town: Jack Giddens, Dean Inman, Josh Urquhart, Robbie Evans, Danny Waldren, Liam Hughes (Adam Cunnington 67), Jamie O’Hara, Billy Bricknell, Luke Rooney (Matt Paine 54), Jake Robinson, Nick Wheeler (Sam Deering 54)
Metropolitan Police: Thomas Williams, Aaron Goode, Sam Gallagher, Will Salmon, Oliver Robinson, Jay Gasson, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick (Rylan Myers 82), Luke Robertson (Jeremy Arthur 88), Jonny Wright (Calum Kealy 84), Tom Hickey, Tom Bird.
Attendance: 626