WALTON & HERSHAM 0

BILLERICAY TOWN 1

(Ryman League Premier Division)

Town turned executioners on Bank Holiday Monday as their win consigned hosts Walton to relegation.

They left the blow until late though, with only time added on remaining when the killer punch was delivered.

This time it was Town who showed their sartorial elegance with an unusual combination of blue shorts and yellow shirts.

The line up saw one change, Justin Gentle out with Russell Penn in the starting line up.

But with Colin Simpson still missing, Joe Baker moved to the middle sacrificing the stunning crosses which have been such a hallmark of Town's recent run.

Walton had quite a bit of early possession and in the fourth minute Ross Pickett put in a useful cross for Billericay's Simon Spencer to clear for a corner.

Town though were more effective in the attack and in the ninth minute Baker, having gone over to the wing, crossed for Gary Henty to latch onto the ball and strike the bar with a shot which beat Martin Blake in the home goal.

A minute later Geoff Woolsey had a header pushed out by Blake.

Walton, aware of a fellow relegation candidate's loss earlier in the day, pressed forward leaving their back exposed.

Town, however, fell prey to the offside trap more often than not and were unable to take full advantage of the situation.

On 25 minutes Billericay lost possession well into their own half. Liam Collins collected the ball and from a wide position towards the edge of the box, shot only for Gavin King in the Town goal to efficiently smother the ball.

Two minutes later another cross was cleared as Walton's ineffectiveness in front of goal began to show.

A foul by former Billericay player Darren White was punished and from the free kick Woolsey headed on and Browne headed the ball over the bar so that it rested on the top of the net.

Three minutes off the break Garfield Blackman ought to have put the hosts ahead, but his header from a close in well-placed position went wide.

Two minutes later Walton put in another good move let down but were let down by poor finishing as Pickett centred for King to clear the danger.

The second half carried on in much the same pattern with Walton having plenty of possession, but failing to make it count.

Baker shot wide for Town on 55 minutes, and for Walton, Coates ought to have done better on 70 minutes as he shot wide from a Gary Holloway cross.

Three minutes later a move involving Baker, Spencer and Browne ended with a Browne shot going wide which on another day would have been on target.

On 74 minutes Browne was in the thick of it again when he was released into space with only Blake to beat, and the custodian did well to push the final effort wide for a corner.

A double substitution by the hosts with 15 minutes of normal time remaining saw the introduction of former Town favourite David Adekola.

And more pressure too as Walton finally seemed to have got the game under control.

Two consecutive corners seemed to confirm that they were about to get the upper hand, but the main chance fell to the former Town man, and he shot wide.

Blake dealt effectively with another one-on-one with Browne who, with two minutes of normal time left, gave way for Kirk Game, but the action switched to Town's goal.

A frantic last minute attack saw the ball ping about the area before Adekola put it over the bar.

With only seconds remaining Baker squared to Spencer who lost the ball. Spencer though persisted and recovered the ball and, from the edge of the box, turned and shot to beat Blake and send Walton down.

And while the referee added several more minutes play, Town had won again, a winning run of five games, and an unbeaten run of nine.

Billericay Town: King, Jordan, Moore, Spencer, Linger, Williams, Woolsey, Baker, Browne (Game), Henty, and Penn.

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