Bostik Premier League

BILLERICAY TOWN 2 HARLOW TOWN 0

JOHN CHUBB at the AGP Arena
@JohnCphoenixfm

Billericay Town will be playing National League South football next season having now been confirmed as Bostik Premier League champions, after winning at home to Harlow Town in front of almost 1700 fans and completing a treble of trophies for the 2017/18 campaign.

Billericay’s players celebrate clinching the league title. Photo by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)

Jamie O’Hara went close within the opening moments of the game after Ricay won a free kick on the edge of the penalty box, which was taken by the ex-Tottenham midfielder but Harlow goalkeeper David Hughes did a great job of punching his effort away.

Blues had another good chance on the quarter of an hour mark, when a great O’Hara ball found Dean Inman on the right, who set up Ricky Modeste but his resulting shot was way over the bar.

Then just after the halfway mark in the first half, a long Josh Urquhart throw found Imnan close to the goal but his effort went agonisingly wide to the left of Hughes.

Then after 32 minutes Harlow had their first genuine opportunity when Aaron Jones had a shot on target but Alan Julian in the Billericay goal, almost a spectator until that moment parried the ball away superbly to keep the score at 0-0.

Ricay finally broke their duck just before half time when a long range Sam Deering effort was pushed away by Hughes, but only as far as the incoming Joe Kizzi and the right back shot home to out the home side 1-0 in front, his first ever goal in Billericay colours.

Joe Kizzi celebrates his first ever Billericay Town goal. Photo by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)

Harlow often belied their lowly league position and poor away record in this match, proving a tougher nut to crack than many of the sides Blues have faced this season and the home side had to wait until the 56th minute for their first real chance of the second half as Billy Bricknell fired an effort from the right, but it travelled wide to the right of Hughes.

The Hawks came very close to an equaliser with around 20 minutes remaining, when Julian was called into action to push away an effort which he did superbly.

A couple of minutes later Jake Robinson nearly scored at the other end, when his shot from the left sailed across the face of the goal but went wide.

Blues substitute Adam Cunnington then had a shot on target with 9 minutes left on the clock, but he couldn’t get enough power behind it and the ball was comfortably gathered by David Hughes.

But Cunnington made amends 3 minutes from time, when he struck home from close range to make it 2-0 and seal the title and promotion for Billericay.

At her final whistle the jubilant home supporters poured onto the pitch to salute their heroes, having already seen them take the Essex Senior Cup and Velocity Trophy this season, and they now have the prize they wanted more than any other.

Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Joe Kizzi, Josh Urquhart, Matt Paine (Danny Waldren 73), Dean Inman, Sam Deering, Ricky Modeste, Robbie Evans (Liam Hughes 84), Billy Bricknell (Adam Cunnington 67), Jamie O’Hara, Jake Robinson.

Harlow Town: David Hughes, Paul Rodgers, Christian Scales, Sam Clarke, Joshua Pollard, Fabian Sims, Aaron Jones (Ibrahima Sonko 83), Syrus Gordon, Alexander Reid, Robert Martin (Charles Edwards 67), Jared Small.

Attendance: 1689

Bostik Premier League

BILLERICAY TOWN 5 NEEDHAM MARKET 0

JOHN CHUBB at the AGP Arena
@JohnCphoenixfm

Billericay Town emphatically increased their determination to be Bostik Premier League champions, as well as their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable victory over Needham Market.

Billericay Town’s Jake Robinson. Photo by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)

Blues only took 4 minutes to take the lead. Top scorer Jake Robinson’s initial effort was pushed away well by Needham goalkeeper Daniel Gay, but the former Brighton and Hove Albion striker netted from the rebound to put the home side 1-0 in front.

Then midfield man Sam Deering doubled Ricay’s lead in the 10th minute, as he skilfully cut inside and curled a right footed strike to the left of Gay to put his side 2-0 ahead.

After a quarter of an hour former Tottenham man Jamie O’Hara wasn’t far away from making it 3, when Robinson cleverly laid the ball on for him but his goal bound effort was parried away well by Gay.

But O’Hara did score a third just after the half hour mark, heading the ball home and Billericay were looking more than comfortable by this point.

On 35 minutes Blues won a penalty after Ricky Modeste was clearly tripped in the penalty area. Up stepped Robinson, and his powerful spot kick made it 4-0.

Robinson netted again in time added on at the end of the first period, following more good work from O’Hara but this time his effort was disallowed for offside.

Robinson again came close to securing a hat trick just after the restart, with a strike which almost found the right hand corner of the net but Needham’s shot stopper Gay was alert enough to prevent the home team from scoring yet again.

But Robinson eventually managed his third in the 66th minute, striking the ball into the net after being set up by the busy O’Hara – who had an excellent game in the midfield – to put Blues 5-0 ahead and bag his 7th hat trick of the season.

Ricay found it harder to break down the Suffolk side in the second half, but they had done more than enough by half time and are now 4 points clear at the top of the league going into their final 3 games. If they can produce more displays of this calibre in those matches, the title – and promotion – should be theirs.

Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Joe Kizzi, Josh Urquhart, Matt Paine, Dean Inman, Sam Deering (Brendan Ocran 70), Ricky Modeste (Nick Wheeler 57), Danny Waldren, Jamie O’Hara, Jake Robinson, Adam Cunnington (Liam Hughes 46).

Needham Market: Daniel Gay, Jake Dye, Callum Sturgess, Jeremiah Kamanzi, Kieran Morphew (Daniel Morphew 45), Samuel Nunn, Luke Ingram (Kieran Turner 70), Gareth Heath, Jamie Griffiths (Tyler Rose 80), Charley Edge, George Exworth.

Attendance: 741

Vanarama National League South

CHELMSFORD CITY 3 WEALDSTONE 0

By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm

Chelmsford City made it 5 league wins in a row at the Melbourne Community Stadium tonight, and as good as sealed a play-off spot with a comfortable victory over Wealdstone.

City boss Rod Stringer made 2 changes from the side that started in the 4-2 victory at East Thurrock United on Saturday, Joshua Wallen coming in for Taylor Miles at the back and Chris Dickson partnering Scott Fenwick in attack, in place of Shaun Batt.

And the home side went in front after only 14 minutes, Bagasan Graham finding the net after Dickson cleverly back-heeled the ball to set up the Ebbsfleet loanee to make it 1-0.

Graham nearly doubled the Clarets’ led a few minutes later, but Wealdstone goalkeeper Jonathan North saved his header.

Provider then turned goalscorer in the 28th minute, as Dickson struck the ball past North to put Chelmsford 2-0 in front.

Just after the break City striker Fenwick, whose scoring exploits in recent games have been a big factor in their climb up the table had a great chance when he beat 3 Stones players, before firing a shot which North managed to push before it was headed away.

Following a bizarre incident when one of the Melbourne ball boys was sent off by referee Ian Fissenden, Clarets went 3-0 ahead in the 68th minute with an outstanding goal by Dickson, whose screamer of a shot hit the top corner of the net and put the game beyond the visitors’ reach completely.

Stringer’s side are now all but assured of a play-off spot as local rivals Braintree Town – the only side outside the top 7 who can mathematically overtake City – today had a point deducted for fielding an ineligible player. At best the Iron can now only equal Chelmsford’s current haul of 71 points, and have an inferior goal difference by a margin of 11 so are highly unlikely to overtake them.

Chelmsford City: Sam Beasant, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (Danny Green 89), Craig Braham-Barrett, Joshua Wallen, Eliot Omozusi, Michael Spillane, Jonny Giles, Anthony Church, Scott Fenwick, Chris Dickson (Kudus Oyenuga 83), Bagasan Graham (Cameron James 61).

Wealdstone: Jonathan North, Eddie Oshodi, Ryan Sellars, (Matty Whichelow 46), Glenn Wilson, Jerome Okimo, Jake Sheppard, Rickey Wellard, Sam Cox, David Pratt, Bradley Bubb, Sam Fitchett (Jeffrey Monakana 46).

Attendance: 695

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

Bostik Premier League

BILLERICAY TOWN 5 STAINES TOWN 3

By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm

Billericay Town kept their quest for the Bostik Premier League title going after this 8-goal thriller saw them claim all 3 points against Staines, and also saw their striker Jake Robinson take his place in the club’s record books.

Billericay’s Jake Robinson celebrates his record haul of goals for the club this season. Photograph by kind permission of Nicky Hayes (@NickyHayesPhoto)

Blues took an early lead after just nine minutes when Matt Paine powered a header past Staines goalkeeper Conor Hudnott to put his side ahead, and Billy Bricknell doubled the lead 5 minutes later when the big striker doubled the lead, also with his head.

The two goalscorers both had further chances but just after the half hour mark Elliott Buchanan, one of the leading marksmen in the Bostik Premier pulled one back for the Swans. The former Chelmsford City striker scored from the edge of the box for his 28th league strike of the campaign to make the score 2-1.

But another ex-Claret, Ricky Modeste made it 3-1 to Ricay on 36 minutes when the winger curled a shot into the top right hand corner of the net.

Max Worsfold once again reduced the deficit in the 41st minute, when his free kick beat Billericay number 1 Alan Julian to make the score Billericay 3, Staines 2 going into half time.

Blues made a change straight after the break as Jamie O’Hara made way for Danny Waldren, They then lost Modeste after he was on the receiving end of a high challenge from Tyrell Miller-Rodney, who was perhaps lucky to only receive a yellow card and Jake Robinson came on to replace his injured team mate.

Miller-Rodney was himself withdrawn and replaced by Josh Webb after becoming involved in an argument with a group of home supporters, Staines manager Johnson Hippolyte clearly not wanting to risk playing the final half hour with 10 men.

Billericay’s introduction of their goalscoring phenomenon Robinson proved inspired as he made it 4-2 with 72 minutes on the clock, finding the net from 30 yards out.

But the visitors were not throwing in the towel, as Buchanan scored his second and his side’s third with 12 minutes remaining from a header to make it 4-3.

But Robinson secured all 3 points for Ricay in the 88th minute when he scored his second of the game to make it 5-3. It was the former Brighton and Hove Albion forward’s 52nd goal of the season, and with this strike he broke the all-time club record for the number of goals from one player in a campaign, previously held for two decades by Leon Gutzmore who bagged 51 for Blues in the 1997/98 season.

Billericay are now five points clear at the top of the league with six Bostik Premier fixtures left, but they next have the chance to claim the Velocity Trophy this Wednesday evening as they face Metropolitan Police in the final.

Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Robbie Evans, Kevin Foley, Joe Kizzi, Josh Urquhart, Sam Deering, Ricky Modeste(Jake Robinson 59),Matt Paine, Billy Bricknell, Jamie O’Hara (Danny Waldren 46), Adam Cunnington (Dean Inman 79).

Staines Town: Conor Hudnott, Leon Solomon, Tyrell Miller-Rodney (Josh Webb 59), Bayley Brown (Daniel Brown 64), Ugo Udoji, Tommy Brewer, Sam Hatton, Wadah Ahmidi, Elliott Buchanan, Mo Bettamer, Max Worsfold.

Attendance: 580

By JOHN CHUBB @JohnCphoenixfm

Billericay Town returned to the top of the Bostik Premier League, after a victory by the odd goal saw them beat Tonbridge.

Blues had a couple of good chances to score in the first half, Ricky Modeste hitting the post and a Jake Robinson effort going just wide, whilst Joe Turner went close for the Angels, but the match remained goalless at half time.

Just after the break Sam Deering put the ball in the net for Ricay, but his effort was disallowed due to a handball.

But with 53 minutes on the clock Deering put the ball past Jonathan Henly in the Tonbridge goal to out his side 1-0 ahead.

The same player chipped Henly 4 minutes later, nearly doubling his and his side’s lead but his effort hit the bar.

On 66 minutes defender Liam Smith equalised for the Angels, but 3 minutes later substitute Liam Hughes – who had replaced Billy Bricknell 4 minutes previously- put Billericay back in front with a close range header.

In injury time Modeste almost added a third for the ‘home’ side, and Tonbridge’s Turner was denied by Blues goalkeeper Alan Julian in the final moments but the score stayed at 2-1 to take Glenn Tamplin’s side back to the summit.

Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Joe Kizzi, Josh Urquhart , Danny Waldren, Dean Inman, Sam Deering (Brendan Ocran 79), Robbie Evans (Matt Paine 70), Jamie O’Hara, Billy Bricknell (Liam Hughes 65), Ricky Modeste, Jake Robinson.

Tonbridge Angels: Jonathan Henly, Liam Smith, Craig Stone (Luke Blewden 12), Tom Whitnell (Luciano Osbourne 83), Sonny Miles, Callum Adonis-Taylor, Sam Bantick, Xavier Vidal, Tashi-Jay Kwayie (Nathan Elder 40), Alex Akrofi, Joe Turner.

Attendance: 505

Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB at the Melbourne Community Stadium
@JohnCphoenixfm

Chelmsford City took the honours in this all-Essex clash and moved back towards play-off contention, as they dealt Concord Rangers a blow in their fight for National League South survival.

City manager Rod Stringer made a couple of changes from his side’s last game, which was the defeat against Billericay Town in the Essex Senior Cup final nearly a fortnight ago. Danny Green and Chris Dickson made way in the starting line up for Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and Scott Fenwick, neither of whom had been eligible for that game.

Concord boss Adam Flanagan made one change from his side’s home defeat to East Thurrock United last Tuesday, Femi Akinwande replacing Steve Cawley who dropped to the bench.

Fenwick, making his home bow for the Clarets made an instant name for himself after just 11 minutes, when he latched onto a cross from the right flank and scored with an extraordinary overhead kick to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Fenwick, Shaun Batt and Taylor Miles had opportunities to extend the Clarets’ lead, and Akinwande had the Beach Boys’ first chance but the score remained 1-0 at half time.

After the break Akinwande had a further chance for Concord on the hour, his low shot going just wide. This followed a lengthy pause as home defender Craig Barham-Barrett received treatment for a head injury.

There was another opportunity for the visitors to equalise on 72 minutes when Ben Greenhalgh beat Danny Green – who had just come on to replace Jazzi Barnum-Bobb – but his initial effort was stopped by Chelmsford goalkeeper Sam Beasant, and a further attempt went over the bar.

Green then had a decent goalscoring opportunity 10 minutes from the end, after being laid on by fellow substitute Chris Dickson but his effort went wide of the post.

Concord won a corner in injury time, which Greenhalgh floated into the area but Billy Roast’s header went over the bar.

So City took three points and other results meant they moved up a place to 8th in the league, a point away from the play-off spots.

Chelmsford City : Sam Beasant, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (Danny Green 71), Craig Barham-Barrett, Elliot Omozusi, Michael Spillane, Chris Smith, Taylor Miles (Joshua Wallen 74), Anthony Church, Scott Fenwick, Shaun Batt (Chris Dickson 60), Jonathan Giles.

Concord Rangers: Louis Wells, Rob Girdlestone, Jordan Brown, Billy Roast, Lewis Knight, Adam Topley, Andy Freeman, Lewis Taaffe (Emmanuel Ighorae 77), Femi Akinwande, Ben Greenhalgh, Khale Da Costa (Steve Cawley 46).

Attendance: 831

Bostik Premier League

WINGATE & FINCHLEY 1 BILLERICAY TOWN 3
By JOHN CHUBB

Billericay Town placed their title challenge back on the rails with a fine victory away to Wingate & Finchley.

Both sides enjoyed some decent possession in the first quarter of the match, Reece Beckles-Richards having an early opportunity for the hosts and both Jake Robinson and Sam Deering going close for Ricay.

Tommy Tejan-Sie of Wingate & Finchley wasn’t far from opening the scoring just before the half hour mark, his shot being deflected just wide, before he fired over the bar from the resulting corner.

But the visitors went in front on 36 minutes, Danny Waldren finding the net from a Jamie O’Hara cross.

Calum Butcher had a couple of decent chances to add to Ricay’s lead, but the score remained 1-0 to Billericay at half time.

The visiting Blues didn’t take long to add to their led once the match restarted, as they were awarded a penalty within a few minutes of the second half, which was netted by Billy Bricknell to double the scoreline.

The spot kick marked a tremendous personal milestone for Bricknell, as it was the forward’s 100th Billericay goal of his two spells with the club.

Ricay were clearly buoyed by their two-goal advantage as Bricknell, Robinson and skipper Rob Swaine all came close to adding a third.

Marc Charles-Smith wasn’t far away from getting the home side back in contention on 57 minutes, but Billericay goalkeeper Alan Julian made a fine save.

The hosts had another excellent chance to get back into the game several minutes later, only a goal line clearance from Josh Urquhart preventing the deficit from being reduced.

But in the 68th minute Jake Robinson made it 3-0 to the Essex side, scoring goal number 48 of his season from the edge of the penalty area.

Wingate pulled a goal back a couple of minutes from the end of the 90 minutes, second half substitute Irnti Rapai – who had come close to scoring five minutes previously- beating Julian with a close range header from Ben Pattie’s cross.

But Billericay took all three points back to Essex to boost their confidence after a turbulent recent run of league form.

Wingate & Finchley: Shane Gore, Luke Ifil, Layne Eadie, Jake Eales, Sean Cronin, Ahmet Rifat, Rob Laney (Irnti Rapai 69), Freddy Moncur (Afolabi Obafemi 53), Marc Charles-Smith (Ben Pattie 76), Reece Beckles-Richards, Tommy Tejan-Sie.

Billericay Town: Alan Julian, Joe Kizzi, Josh Urquhart, Danny Waldren, Rob Swaine, Sam Deering (Luke Rooney 72), Robbie Evans, Calum Butcher (Nick Wheeler 72), Billy Bricknell, Jamie O’Hara (Matt Paine 68), Jake Robinson.

Attendance: 240