Billericay Town made the relatively short hop over to the Wardale Williams Stadium as Ryman League Premier Division action resumed after A.F.C. Sudbury’s adventure in the Emirates F.A. Cup ended the previous weekend.
The match kicked off with Billericay Town attacking left to right as seen from the Brian Tatum Stand. The visitors went straight onto the front-foot, forcing an opening minute corner which was delivered from the left by Sam Cross. Ricky Sappleton’s header was saved as Marcus Garnham dropped to his right to smother. Liam Wales initiated Sudbury’s first attacking intent, running at and through the visitors’ midfield and finding Ben Robinson with a neat pass. His cross reached Sam Clarke whose shot was blocked. On six minutes Rob Eagle had a shot blocked, the rebounding ball falling to Liam Wales who was flagged offside.
Goldy Capela broke free for Billericay at some pace, but James Baker’s superbly-timed tackle stopped him dead in his tracks. Liam Wales again broke at speed, but the solidity of the Billericay defence saw him lose possession before he could carve out a chance. Cappella was allowed space on the edge of the home penalty area to fire a shot over the crossbar as Billericay Town bossed possession. The busy Liam Wales threatened the Billericay goal following a neat combination between Jack Newman and Rob Eagle, but their ‘keeper Jack Giddens was quick off his line to snuff out the danger.
Billericay turned their possession advantage into a lead on sixteen minutes. Quinton Monville's fine run along the right wing was rewarded when a superb cross into Junior Luke at the far post led to a well-placed header which eluded Marcus Garnham on its way into the net.
Goldy Capella then had an effort blocked by James Baker and smuggled clear by Adam Tann. Monville threatened with a strong pacy run, but Jack Wilkinson’s strong challenge, and an important one, averted any danger. Ryan Auger sent a fine switched ball to the right wing where Ben Robinson was dispossessed by Adelewo as the home side struggled to get a footing in the game.
Ryan Auger sent a speculative effort just wide of the left hand post on twenty-two minutes. Billericay hit back and from a right wing corner Aaron Greene had to clear the ball from the home goal-line. On twenty-seven minutes, Sudbury skipper Sam Clarke was replaced by Ryan Henshaw after suffering an achilles injury.
Billericay doubled their advantage just shy of the half hour. Marcus Garnham rose to punch clear a free-kick and unluckily was grounded as the ball fell for Junior Luke who calmly stroked it into the net. It could have been even worse for A.F.C. Sudbury on thirty-five minutes when a flowing Billericay move opened up the home defence and Kresnic Krasniqi hit the post from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
This sparked great fight from the home side. Rob Eagle received the ball on the left wing at pace, controlled it superbly and crossed quickly for Liam Wales to head home low down, a really well-worked goal.
On thirty-nine minutes A.F.C. Sudbury were sensationally level. Rob Eagle’s ball to Liam Wales saw his effort headed clear. The ball fell again to Eagle who picked out Aaron Greene with another stunning cross which was skilfully headed home.
Sudbury almost wrestled the lead as the half closed. Rob Eagle’s left wing corner causing a rattled Billericay defence to half scramble the ball clear, and as the ball looked destined for a Sudbury boot to knock it home, an offside flag was raised.
Half-Tim;- AFC Sudbury 2 Billericay Town 2
Rob Eagle sent a twenty-five yard shot just left of the Billericay goal on forty-six minutes as Sudbury started the half well. Billericay Town settled quickly with A.F.C. Sudbury struggling to keep possession. Junior Luke broke free on the left, but was superbly tackled by Ryan Henshaw with the Billericay forwards closing in on goal.
On the hour, Liam Wales sent a lovely cushioned header on to Aaron Greene. His returned ball into Wales saw the offside flag raised in what must have been a very close call. On sixty-six minutes Liam Wales made way for Luke Callander and Ryan Auger was replaced by Sam Bantick.
Josh Oyinsan should have scored when bearing down on Marcus’ Garnham’s goal. but somehow his run was stopped by Ryan Henshaw and James Baker and the threat averted. Sadly this was only a temporary reprieve. On seventy minutes, from a neat reverse pass, Krasniqi had the simple pass of tapping the ball into the net and Sudbury found themselves chasing the game once again.
Billericay Town sat on their lead and made Sudbury work hard and ultimately fruitlessly for an equaliser. With five minutes remaining, a Sam Bantick corner kick struck a Billericay defender to a few muted appeals for hand-ball, but the home side, perhaps tiring, couldn’t find a way to open up the visitors’ defence.
Att 226
Richard Whiting