French international Amara Simba took just three minutes to display the goal touch Billericay Town have been so sadly lacking in their pre-season friendly campaign.

Simba, 39, who scored the FA Umbro Trophy winner for Kingstonian the season before last, put the Ryman Premier side on the win trail against their New Lodge tenants, who have just won promotion to the top flight of the Dr Martens League.

Simba has included Paris St. Germaine and Monaco among the top clubs he has played for on the other side of the Channel, but he demonstrated on Tuesday night that, even at the autumn stage of his career, there's no substitute for pure class.

Trialist Simba netted with a neat lob over Richard Hurst in the Chelmsford goal and then, in partnership with new midfielder Martin Carthy, set-up star man Joe Baker for a second just five minutes later.

For Billericay fans who had seen their side score just one goal in five previous friendlies this was real mouth-watering stuff.

Before half-time Hurst tipped over a Carthy effort and saved from Baker before Simba took a well-earned break on the bench after the interval.

Chelmsford hit back with a 63rd minute effort from Russell Williamson, released by Southend United at the end of last season.

However, home boss Gary Calder's Billericay were in no mood to ease up and delighted followers in a 273 crowd when, after 63 minutes, Dominic Gentle netted after attack partner Jamie Wallace's effort had been saved.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.