Billericay launched their own version of The Simpson Show at New Lodge on Tuesday night - and had the last laugh on an Aldershot line-up still harbouring dreams of winning the Ryman League Premier Division.

For attack leader Colin Simpson cracked a brilliant hat-trick as Gary Calder's braves ended Shots' run of eight consecutive League wins with a tremendous second-half display. In the process, they became the first team to complete a double over their illustrious visitors in the Premier this term.

After an inconsistent season, Billericay are certainly giving their faithful something to savour during the summer with a rich end-of-term vein of form.

Less than a month ago they still had fears of being dragged into the relegation dogfight, but a run of four wins and a draw from their last five matches has lifted them to eighth in the table with a real chance now of a top six finish.

All that looked a million miles away last night when George Borg's Shots took first-half control of the game and were unlucky to go in at the interval only one goal ahead.

On yet another miserable wet night, and with the visitors bringing a few hundred fans to cheer them on their way, an attendance of 901 saw a brilliant game which started with a nightmare for home keeper Gavin King who, after ten minutes, made a complete pig's ear of trying to gather a harmless long punt down the middle on a greasy surface and left Wayne Andrews to shoot into an open goal.

Shots could have gone 2-0 ahead seven minutes later when star goal man Gary Abbott set Simon Ullathorne up for an effort which crashed against the post. But Billericay, who lost the injured Steve Blaney after ten minutes, battled back bravely with Simpson getting his first after 31 minutes with a header.

Billericay's joy was short-lived as two minutes later King found himself punching at air when Junior Harvey sent in a dangerous cross and Otis Hutchings glided home Shots' second with his head.

For the next 12 minutes Billericay were in danger of complete collapse as Richard Gell saw his shot deflected onto the bar and King did well to thwart Andrews. Then the Billericay keeper produced an unorthodox stop with his knees from Gell with Andrews shooting wide when well placed from the rebound.

The second-half was a complete transformation as Billericay, for 20 minutes or so, took complete control. The goal glory went to Simpson, but there were plenty of other goal heroes - none more so than Billericay's "find of the season" Joe Baker who, with top visiting defender Jason Chewins unavailable, completely demoralised the Shots' rearguard down the right-hand flank.

Skipper Dean Parratt was superb in midfield and young Gary Henty, who came on for Blaney, was a constant threat with his strong running.

Simpson was on hand to equalise after 48 minutes after the visiting defence had knocked out a shot and Andy Pape in the visiting goal saved superbly from Lee Williams.

However, Baker was virtually unplayable now and it was no surprise that his cross from the right led to the 55th-minute winner, which Simpson ran into the net as the visiting rearguard stood in complete disarray.

Shots refused to give in and King atoned somewhat for his earlier boobs by pushing over an Abbott header and then bravely diving at Mark Bentley's feet.

The visitors launched a succession of free-kicks and corners to no avail, but in the end this was deservedly Billericay's night - and one that almost certainly signalled the end of Shots title ambitions.

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