Ryman Premier
Billericay 1 v 0
THE scoreline belies the excitement, controversy and drama of this Ryman Premier derby played out in a caustic atmosphere at New Lodge on an afternoon when Town made a giant stride towards claiming the title.
Rocks were undoubtedly the better side on the day but the champions-elect, who finished with only nine men on the pitch, showed the strength, both mentally and physically, that has carried them to the brink of the crown.
Their hero was keeper Dale Brightly who made several fine saves in the second half but ended up being sent off for a petulant shove and kick at East Thurrock’s Kye Ruel, leaving Dave Collis to take the gloves for a dramatic last couple of minutes.
Collis himself was only on the pitch thanks to the leniency of referee Stuart Pawley, who by all the laws of the game should have sent him for an early shower but having already rightly dismissed Jay May in the first half, he appeared to cave in to the pressure from a vociferous home crowd and the aggression from Billericay’s bench,
May was dismissed for a second yellow midway through the first half but it really should have been a straight red for a shocking tackle on Rocks’ captain Ben Wood that left the victim with deep stud marks down the inside of his knee.
Rocks had made a great start to the game, but couldn’t find the goal their early pressure merited, the best chance being a header from Spencer Harrison that rose over the bar.
May had already picked up a card when the red mist descended on 20 minutes and his awful lunge at Wood saw him sent off.
As often happens, the dismissal changed the dynamic of the game in favour of the ten men, who closed ranks in adversity and began to get back in the match, so much so that two minutes before the break they grabbed the decisive goal.
It came from a Collis long throw into the box. Rob Swaine won the surge for the head-on, flicking the ball across the face of goal where Harrison Chatting tapped in from close range.
It was tough on Rocks, but testimony to the sense of purpose that has served Craig Edwards’ side so well this season. This is not the first time they have carved a result out of adversity.
The second half saw Rocks dominate the game, with Billericay packing their ranks and fighting a strong rearguard action. They were not averse to timewasting tactics with Collis and Brightley picking up cards for delaying the game and a ‘member of the crowd’ in a club Macron tracksuit who jumped the fence on more than one occasion to grab the ball and spirit it away.
When the ball was in play Rocks were largely on the attack. Kris Newby went close with an angled drive and Brightly showed spring-like reflexes to back-pedal and tip Sam Higgins’ header of the bar.
But the really pivotal moment came midway through the half when the ball fell invitingly for Reiss Gilbey from close range and he smashed the ball goalwards only for Brightly to somehow stretch a leg and deflect the ball over the bar.
Brightly was clearly at boiling point and he was involved in a couple of adrenaline-fuelled clashes with Rocks players, going down under one challenge from Higgins for which the Rocks player was cautioned.
In front of Brightley his teammates were also in determined mood largely on the defensive but occasionally threatening a breakaway, typified when Emeka Onwubiko burst through and could have put the game beyond Rocks but for a save from Jamie Riley who pushed his shot up and away from goal.
Collis had his lucky escape when he hoofed the ball downfield in a bid to stop Rocks restarting play. Ref Pawley appeared to be set to issue a second yellow but, surrounded by Billericay players and bereted from the touchline, he settled for a ‘final warning’,
How influential that decision was is left to conjecture, but Collis is the engine room of Blues’ success and the experienced head that has guided them through many a potential crisis.
He is also the stand-in keeper and he was required for the last two minutes when Brightly clashed with Rocks substitute Ruel as he charged out of his box. He won the race to the ball and thumped it out of the park but the two players collided and in the secondary act, Brightly pushed Ruel to the floor and kicked out at him.
Mr Pawley rightly sent him off, but again it perhaps should have been a straight red.
Brightly’s dismissal set up a tense couple of minutes, with Rocks crowding into the home box but the strength of character that has served Billericay so well saw them see out the game. They now require a point from the final two matches as they are five ahead of rivals Hornchurch, who lost at Wealdstone and have a much better goal difference.
