Billericay Town 2 – 0 Wealdstone

Billericay Town

2 - 0

Wealdstone

KO: 0:00 | Fri 25th Mar ’05

In the end, this game saw probably the right result as Stones came up against their most impressive opponents so far in Billericay. The home side playing slick fast moving football, only to be thwarted for long periods by Stones never say die defending.

Billericay got into their stride early on, and soon had Stones back line penned well into the penalty area, but, with a mixture of heads legs and good fortune, Stones soaked up the pressure quite well – on the occasions when Billericay did break through, Andy Carter was there to make three excellent saves to preserve the 0-0 score.

It wasn’t entirely one way however, and Beckford ran onto a through ball from Jolly, his attempted chip into the arms of Cappleton, and Jolly and Burrell also had chances to give Stones the lead all be it against the overall run of play. The referee also had an impact wit one or two odd decisions, none more so that when Stones appeal for a penalty was waved away Kerrigan having tackled Beckford from behind, bringing him down without getting anywhere near the ball, but the score remained 0-0 till half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern until on 61 minutes the ineffective Cousins was replaced with the power and strength of Nathan Elder and this proved to be the decisive change as Stones could not cope with the extra presence. The substitute took his two goal on 64 and 72 minutes well to give the home side a winning lead.

While Stones continued to battle, Beckford, Jolly, Morton and Tilbury all creating half chances there was no further score, Billericay winning 2-0.

Harrow Times – Steve Paull

WEALDSTONE set their stall out for a point against high-flying Billericay, but despite an hour of resistance through good fortune and last ditch defending, they were undone by a brace from substitute Nathan Elder.

Going forward, Billericay always looked very quick and direct and worthy of their high placing in the division. Defensively, they were never tested as Wealdstone had perhaps their most ineffective game in attack this season.

Andy Carter saving at the feet of Hunter in the second minute was the shape of things to come, and Wealdstone were pinned back into their own half for long periods. Gary Burrell did manage to test home keeper Cappleton after a quarter of an hour and Jermaine Beckford tried to beat him with an audacious chip, but these were isolated moments.

Carters acrobatic save to keep out a vicious volley from Cousins was more of the norm. Armstrong and Sappleton were just off target, but a decent claim for a penalty was turned down when Beckford went down in a challenge with Kerrigan. The half finished with an effort from McSweeney being blocked following a goalmouth melee.

Somehow Wealdstone were level at half time. Richard Morton was brought on to add more muscle to midfield but, in truth, very little changed. A second goalmouth melee followed, with Wealdstone players throwing their bodies at the ball, and Morton twice blocking goal bound shots on the line.

Moments later, the first goal finally came when Elder took a pass from Forbes to score from close in. Elder missed the target soon after and Carter saved another effort from him as the game entered its final quarter.

Wealdstone showed a more positive attitude in the latter part of the game, but conceded a second when Forbes beat an attempt at an offside trap. Although Carter made a good save to stop the shot, Elder, backing up, scored with a free header. Wealdstone were comprehensively beaten on the day, but must be grateful they don’t come across top sides at the peak of their game every week.