A big crowd is expected at Billericay Town's New Lodge ground for tonight's first ever Ryman League Premier Division local derby with Canvey Island.

It's the first ever clash at such a high level between the two sides - Gulls having been promoted to the top flight this term - and both have made solid starts to the campaign.

Jeff King's Islanders, on 13, have obtained one more point than their rivals from their opening seven games.

Extra spice is added by the fact that Canvey have no less than seven players on their books previously with Billericay. Also, Islanders' coach Glenn Pennyfather was born in the town.

It's likely that only two or possibly three of the ex-New Lodge men will be involved in Gulls' starting line-up and one, midfielder Mark Barry, will play no part at all, having joined fellow Premier side Purfleet on loan at the weekend.

Billericay will probably have a new striker in harness with on-loan Slough man Bryan Hammatt, who made such a bright scoring debut in Friday's 2-1 defeat at Dagenham.

Town boss Gary Calder would not reveal the identity of the new arrival or, indeed, confirm that he was a striker . . . and we won't spoil the surprise for home followers by naming him in advance.

The match is being eagerly awaited by players, fans and officials of both clubs and Calder admitted: "I've got tremendous respect for Jeff and everything that's been achieved at Canvey in a relatively short space of time."

King for his part will read nothing into the fact that his side have won their last two games, while tonight's hosts have been beaten in their previous couple of matches.

He said: "Gary took over in the summer and has obviously made a lot of changes. However, apart from losing two matches 4-0, they've been pretty tight at the back and have conceded only three goals in the other five."

It would take a brave man - certainly more courageous than myself - to tip a winner. Midfield will be a key area where the likes of Canvey's Chris Duffy - easily my local player of the season so far - could be a major threat to the home outfit.

Both sides yesterday heard their fates if they should progress through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup on October 2.

If Gulls beat fellow Premier side Boreham Wood at home on Saturday week, they will visit either Royston or Wembley, both from the lower divisions of the Ryman.

Billericay must visit Wisbech, twice the ruin of their Cup ambitions in recent years, in the second qualifying round on Saturday week. If they win then their scant reward would almost certainly be a visit to Calder's previous club, Enfield, who moved to the top of the Premier at the weekend.

Apologies to Bryan Hammatt who was misnamed Habbatt in Friday's team changes at Dagenham and in a previous report.

Town date - Canvey striker Andy Jones, right, will be out to cause havoc to Billericay Town's rearguard tonight

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