The long range shooting skills of Steve Blaney continue to play a leading part in Billericay Town's late Ryman League Premier Division rally.

Little more than a week ago, the New Lodge side feared being dragged into the relegation dogfight, but three wins in eight days has seen them rise to ninth place.

Now, if they can pull off a third win of the term over former manager John Kendall's current Chesham club tonight away from home, Billericay could be looking at a finishing position not far short of boss Gary Calder's pre-season aim of the top six.

Blaney has seen much of his career so far at Billericay wrecked by injury, but has landed a permanent place in the starting line-up recently and has taken it well.

Scorer of a superb effort in the recent Essex Senior Cup semi-final defeat at Purfleet, he went close here after 61 minutes with a great run through the middle which ended with his 12-yard effort being blocked by a visiting defender.

But there was no stopping the former Welsh Under-21 international, who was once on West Ham's books, three minutes later. The visitors only half-cleared a corner from the left and Blaney crashed home a glorious 30-yard effort which hit the net via the inside of the far post.

If Blaney grabbed the scoring honours, it was again Billericay's ex-Orient man Joe Baker who captured the hearts of the home faithful in a 510 crowd.

As early as the second minute he forced Basingstoke keeper Scott Tarr to push out a 25-yard effort. Then, after another afternoon in which his close dribbling skills had caused havoc in an opposition defence, he launched into an amazing mazy run from his own half three minutes from time which took him down to the left wing.

Sadly, his cross just evaded two incoming colleagues, but Billericay deserved this latest success against an opposition side, managed by former Fulham favourite Ernie Howe, who are not year free from worries of making the big drop.

Basingstoke's best chance came three minutes before the interval when Sean Gorman hit the woodwork with an effort when the home defence was slow to react to a throw-in.

The next two teams in Billericay's sights in the table are Slough and Dulwich, both of whom were in Premier action last night.

Have a go Joe - Billericay star man Joe Baker leaves another Basingstoke opponent trailing in his wake

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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