Town struggled to get to terms with a resurgent Heybridge at Scraley Road on Monday afternoon.

While their opponents are gradually dragging themselves out of the relegation zone, Billericay have fallen back from the head of the table, which they so proudly led earlier in the season.

The gap between top and fifth is only three points and Billericay manager John Kendall will be glad 1998 is finally out of the way following an only modest sequence of results over recent weeks.

Although the surface had no standing water, it was heavy and in several areas took all the bounce out of the ball.

One of Town's strengths has been the speedy through ball being converted by fast running strikers.

David Adekola and Leon Gutzmore, however, made little impression and goalkeeper Jim Pullen, in his Ryman League debut, had little of significance to do.

Gutzmore was cautioned in the first four minutes and there was every possibility that the game would end with less than 22 players on the field.

Referee Mr Lee of Brentwood had quite a busy time with four more players finding their way into the official's book, two for fouls on the slippery Martin St Hilaire. Contrary to the signs though, no-one received two yellows.

The first half was fairly balanced and both sets of fans could have been reasonably happy with the teams turning around all square.

Town had started the better in terms of possession although it was the hosts who had the best chance.

On 14 minutes, after a Nicky Simpson corner, former Wivenhoe striker Chris Heasman hammered a shot on the turn against the underside of Dave Root's bar. Fortunately for Town, the ball bounced out rather than in.

Alex Fiddes, another Heybridge summer signing went close in the 20th minute.

But it was Billericay who had the last chances of the half with the home goal bombarded with just the telling touch being absent.

In the last few seconds of the half a St Hilaire cross from the right passed over the goalmouth and Gutzmore sought to poke the ball home from close in at the far post.

The angle was tight and a defender's deflection sent the ball straight into Pullen's arms.

Five minutes into the second period Billy Goldstone made a mistake at the back by chesting the ball towards Root.

The ball slowed on the cloying surface and Town were very nearly punished by Fiddes.

Heybridge soon began to take control. Their team is not full of the familiar names who have faced Town in recent years but, with discipline, they could well survive the relegation threat.

Their determination held them in good stead on this occasion, although overall the performance was little more than average.

Unseasonable pushing, shoving and squaring up first in the Town goal and then in the Heybridge area seemed to disrupt Town and on 16 minutes Heybridge scored the only goal of the game.

Wayne Adcock, a Heybridge player of several seasons' standing, crossed from the right.

On the far post Christian McClean, a new arrival at Heybridge, but a scorer against Town with other clubs, fired home across Root into the far corner.

Kendall made a double substitution shortly afterwards to give the new format plenty of time to settle down.

The re-arrangement did not, however, make a great difference. And while Town might have got one back with a bit of luck, Root was busy up the other end blocking and saving.

When he was beaten with ten minutes left Craig Davidson was well placed to clear off the line from Gillespie.

Kendall introduced the third substitute, Jerome Matthews, in the final minutes and Town for a moment it looked as if they might get an equaliser.

But all the effort failed to really test Pullen and Mr Lee brought proceeds to an end to a huge cheer from the home supporters.

Billericay Town: Root, Goldstone, Davidson, Waters, Moore, St Hilaire, Ridout (Blaney), Parratt, Adekola, Gutzmore (Matthews) and Rattle (Hooker).

Attendance: 666.

At full stretch . . Billericay Town goalkeeper Dave Root rushes out in an attempt to block Heybridge Swifts' Christian McLean's shot in Monday's Ryman League match at Scraley Road.

Picture: GRAHAM LIDDELL.

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