Billericay Town came out on top at home to Saint Albans City this afternoon in a five goal thriller. Callum Kennedy’s curled free-kick into the top corner completed a thrilling fight-back after the Saints had raced into a two goal lead. A moment of indiscipline, which saw the Hertfordshire side reduced to ten men after Billericay scored their first goal, proved costly to the outcome of the match.

With Harry Wheeler absent today, the identity of the Billericay manager for the match was as eagerly anticipated as the starting team. For the record, Head Coach Tristan Lewis assumed control in the dug-out and was supported by assistant coach, Danny Hazell. Both would enjoy an exciting day in the office and, after a poor start, both were able to tease out a winning display full of character.

The keenly awaited kick-off would yield barely 30 seconds of action before play was halted as an early collision saw the game stopped for six minutes due to a head injury. Right-back, Joe Kizzi, one of Billericay’s best players so far this season, collided with a Saint Albans defender and was stretchered off. Although knocked out, the club later reported that Kizzi was able to walk unaided. The ambulance that swiftly arrived at the ground was not needed on this occasion.

With Billericay switching to an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation, St Albans looked the more comfortable side for the majority of the first half. Breaking swiftly, and using clever combination play between strikers, David Moyo and Ralston Gabriel, the Saints would cause numerous problems for the Blues back-line. Early pressure was quelled by several interventions from Blues centre-back Scott Doe and an excellent diving stop from a Gabriel shot by Billericay No.1, Alan Julian.

After several warnings, it would be the Moyo-Gabriel link-up that allowed St. Albans to open the score on 22 minutes. On the Billericay right-hand side, the two frontmen inter-changed passes cleverly as Gabriel played his strike partner into space in the penalty area. With time to line up his shot, Moyo needed no second invitation to expertly curl an effort beyond Julian and into the far corner.

Billericay roared back with Sam Deering at his most inventive and linking well with Jake Howells to fashion a number of chances from the right hand side. On 25 minutes, Howells went close with an angled drive that saw Saints keeper, Dean Snedker, dive to his right to divert for a corner. With a supply line kicking into action, service started to arrive for Jake Robinson who saw two close range shots charged down in quick succession by Saints centre-backs, Sage and Sho-Silva.

As the Blues exerted more pressure forcing the St. Albans wing-backs to defend, the away side started to concede a number of free-kicks in dangerous areas. An early sighter from Callum Kennedy, curled over the defensive wall, was punched away by the alert, Snedker. After yet another foul, a driven Kennedy set-play into the St. Albans danger area demanded a finish. Unfortunately, Alfie Potter would side-foot a good chance wide of the gaping goal when well placed on 34 minutes.

The home side would rue the miss as Saint Albans broke forward to score their second on 39 minutes. Saints wing-back, Ben Wyatt, took the opportunity to get forward and played a neat ball inside to the waiting Gabriel. Situated just outside the penalty area, the striker was not closed down quickly enough. With time and space, Gabriel beat Alan Julian at the near post with a low shot into the corner.

Photo: Nicky Hayes

Billericay responded almost immediately by reducing arrears on 41 minutes through Scott Doe who bundled home a Deering cross from the left hand side. What followed was senseless, and constituted a major turning point in the match, as Saints defender, Harold Joseph, was sent off for violent conduct. With a number of players jostling each other to retrieve the ball after the opening Billericay goal, Joseph punched Billericay centre-back, Ben Gerring, to receive his marching orders. Gerring could not continue and was replaced by Ricky Modeste.

Photo: Nicky Hayes

Clearly rattled by the character shown by the Billericay team, Saints’ Kiangebeni would illegally halt another Sam Deering incursion on the left hand side. With the half time whistle approaching, Jake Robinson stepped up to complete a quick-fire recovery with the equalising goal. Taking inspiration from an almost identical set-piece goal in the last home game v Weston-super-Mare, Robinson repeated the trick to smash home the free-kick into the far corner.

Billericay came out in the second half with renewed vigour. A switch in formation by Lewis to the usual back line of four also provided a much more solid base. Robinson shot narrowly over from inside the area and, minutes later, had a 25 yard effort charged down. Despite the numerical disadvantage, St Albans remained sporadically dangerous. A burst through the middle from Percy Kiangebeni sounded a warning, ending with a 62nd minute shot just wide.

With the Blues continuing to attack, the home side would take the lead on 66 minutes. Once more, Deering, at the heart of all the best Billericay moves, would be fouled within sight of goal. This time the resultant free-kick – 25 yards out and around the centre of the pitch – was in Callum Kennedy territory. Carefully placing the ball, the ex-Wimbledon left-back curled a stunning effort into the top corner to complete the Billericay fight-back.

The Saints tried to force an equaliser but the Blues held fast. Saints best chance came through Moyo who raced on to a long ball to send a 75th minute shot only inches wide of the goal. Billericay remained a threat with a clever combination between Waldren and Modeste setting Robinson off on a run on goal. Good defending by last man Richard Sho-Silva thwarted the Blues striker on that occasion.

Photo: Nicky Hayes

As the game drew to a close, there was still time for Billericay defender Dean Inman to intervene on two separate occasions, winning a last-ditch tackle to deny Gabriel a clear run on goal and blocking a goal-bound Banton shot. With no further incident in the five minutes of added time, the Blues held on for victory.

Victories achieved after falling two goals behind are hard-fought and illustrate the resilience of the Billericay side. Two high quality free-kicks testify to the ability of individuals, which overcame a less than fluent collective display. With a loss against Chippenham Town on Saturday, and related uncertainty over the managerial situation, the team did well to concentrate on getting it right on the pitch and get the win required. Important questions remain to be answered over the next few days and a big game lies ahead next Saturday at leaders, Woking FC.

Billericay Town
1. Alan Julian 2. Rickie Hayles 3. Callum Kennedy 4. Scott Doe 5. Ben Gerring (15. Ricky Modeste, ’44) 6. Sam Deering 7. Danny Waldren 8. Joe Kizzi (12. Alfie Potter, ‘6) 9. Jake Robinson 10. Jamie O’Hara 11. Jake Howells (16. Dean Inman, ’78)
Subs Not Used: 14. Adam Cunnington 17. Simon Walton

Goals: ‘41 Doe ; ’45 Robinson ; ’66 Kennedy

St Albans City FC
1. Dean Snedker 2. Ben Herd 3. James Sage ( 16. Zane Banton, ’78) 4. Percy Kiangebeni 5 Richard Sho-Silva 6. Harold Joseph 7. Khale Da Costa (12. Sam Merson, ’46) 8. Solomon Sambou 9. Ralston Gabriel 10. David Moyo
11. Ben Wyatt
Subs Not Used: 14. Tarik Moore-Azille 15. Tom Bender 17. Roman Michael-Percil

Goals: ’22 Moyo; ’39 Gabriel

Attendance: 1,356