THIS AFTERNOON’S MATCH PREVIEW – BILLERICAY TOWN (AWAY)

Will ‘Ricay prove tricky as Dulwich head for Essex still smarting from Bank Holiday disappointment at Leatherhead?

Relegation from the Conference South two seasons ago has left the Blues in something of a quandary. Expected to be among the frontrunners for the promotion spots last term under the stewardship of former Dulwich Hamlet supremo Craig Edwards, the Essex Boys dismal home form cost them dearly as they found themselves becalmed in the mid-table Doldrums, not helped by one of the division poorest home records.

Unfortunately that home hospitality did not extend to Dulwich’s last visit to the New Lodge when a typically robust performance from the Blues knocked the Hamlet off their stride as one of the Champion Hill alumni, gamekeeper turned poacher Cedric Ngakam, got the hosts off to a flying start with a hotly contested early goal before Josh Ekim doubled the lead with a neatly curled free kick ten minutes before the break.

The current campaign got off to a good start as goals from Ryan Scott and Chris Benjamin saw Billericay to a comfortable opening day's triumph over Grays Athletic but since then it has been a bit of bumpy ride. Ricky Sappleton looked to have set the Blues on the way to victory at Leiston’s Victory Road but their opponents levelled in the second half before clinching thee win with a last gasp goal in stoppage time.

It was a quick bounceback away to a Lewes side struggling to kick start the season and an early belligerent blitzkrieg from the Essex Boys put paid to any hopes the Rooks had of clinching the points. Sappleton was again on the mark with the afternoon’s opener before Callum Dunne added a second before 20 minutes were up.

Entertaining Harrow at home the following Monday ‘Ricay must have been looking to start building a winning run but in a game that flourished in all too brief patches, the host failed to make the most of their chances whilst Harrow took just one of theirs to shade a mediocre match.

On the back of that defeat, the Isthmian League fixture computer, the world’s last fully functioning ZX Spectrum, sent the Blues off to the Kent coast to face the pecuniary punch of the Margate, a side already odds on to clinch the championship at a canter. Unsurprisingly the result went the way of Mammon with Margate with Billericay blow away by an early blitz, the hosts racking up three goals in the first 18 minutes, through Zac Attwood, Ryan Moss, and Charlie Allen. The barricades held firm until 52 when Moss added his second and though Richard Halle gave the traveling Blues fans a moment of joy when he headed a goal back with ten minutes left last word belonged to the power of the pound as Allen made it five.

Bank Holiday Monday brought the rains and the visit of surprise package East Thurrock United to the New Lodge. Though the Rocks had stuttered from their early season challenge at the summit, they proved tough opponents, Billericay taking a good half hour to breakdown the résistance before an unfortunate own goal gave them the lead. The encounter was settled in the latter stages of the second half as Halle made it two in two as he blasted home a free kick from distance.

Three wins, three defeats from six games; eight goals scored, eight conceded leaves in 11th spot, four points below the Hamlet. Like Dulwich they have their injury problems with a number of key players absent including key striker Ricky Sappleton.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £7 for Concessions (Over 65's and Student cardholders)
• Under 16s £3