Bank Holiday Weekend at the Beach...I Mean New Lodge.

The traditional Easter Bank Holiday fixture verses Billericay Town finally came around today. The venue was New Lodge and the weather was fine. Ben Chenery’s injury picked up last Saturday wasn’t as serious as first thought so he partnered Micky Bennett and Craig Davidson in defence. However having no other defenders left to be named as substitute, Lewis Lilley was called up from the Reserves for only his second senior match of the season.

Canvey begun the game on the offensive, they were dominant in midfield and very attacking minded using both flanks to attack. John Kennedy on the right and Steve Parmenter on the left. This early mentality of Canvey gave much to influence the crowd that goals would be coming the Yellows’ way sometime during the game, but when and would it last for 90 minutes?

Canvey gained a succession of corners only nine minutes into the game. The first, sent over from the left by Jeff Minton found the far post where Lee Boylan was standing, Boylan headed the ball down and Ben Chenery came steaming in, but his effort went steaming over the bar. Four minutes later Neil Gregory headed over the bar, again from a Minton corner.

Billericay responded with a quick counter-attack down the middle of the pitch. Russell Penn broke away and through one-on-one with Danny Potter Penn pulled out wide to the left narrowing the angle. Potter tried his best to fill the space available for Penn to shoot at and made a superb stop with his legs.

Twenty-one minutes into the game and much against the run of play, in only their second chance at goal. Gary Ansell put the Blues one-up. Another break away down the left by Chris Stowe resulted in a deep cross the Potter’s far post. With Ansell lingering nearby he got up well and un-marked headed the ball home past the outstretched Potter. A good piece of play by Billericay, but very much undeserved on their current performance in the first twenty minutes beforehand.

Ex-Canvey man Ollie Adedeji made the most deliberate of hand-balls mid-way through the first-half with nothing but a grin from the Referee to show for it. Adedeji blocked a clear through ball, attacking opportunity just on the edge of the Billericay penalty area. A deliberate hand-ball surely warrants a card from the Referee even if it is only yellow. Maybe even a red for a deliberate obstruction, especially as it was a clear-cut advantage to Canvey.

Canvey tried to get back into the game, but it wasn’t just falling for them. The middle of the pitch was so dry and dusty that the ball only had to be kicked slightly and it would travel a mile or bounce six feet into the air. A few minutes before half-time and the Referee and Referee’s Assistant missed the most blatant hand ball. Neil Gregory came steaming into the Billericay penalty area from the left. His cross-come-shot was parried by Jerome John in the Billericay goal and as it was about to fall for Gregory to have a second chance, a group of Billericay defenders swooped into the box, one managing to swipe the ball out for a corner with his hand.

Half-time: Billericay Town 1, Canvey Island 0.

The second half started much like the first, it was all Canvey and only the kamikaze Billericay defence kept them at bay. Ben Chenery picked up the ball out on the right and kept running and running, he passed one ‘Ricay defender. Cheners was now at the edge of the six yard box where he cut the ball back to Minton who with a player close on him had to let rip a shot that was blocked on the line, whoever made the save be it John or Adedeji could not be identified through the dust kicked up from the goal mouth. The rebound though clearly fell to Steve Parmenter, who unfortunately sliced the ball and put it wide of the right post.

Thirteen minute into the second half and Canvey brought a fresh pair of legs on in the from of free-kick specialist Lee Protheroe. On for Kevin Dobinson it was a wise move by the management team, as Canvey did gain a few free-kicks just outside the edge of the penalty area on numerous occasions.

Gary Ansell had the chance to double Billericay’s lead on the hour when he skied a simple chance from about six yards. The inclusion of Lee Protheroe for his textbook free-kicks almost paid off, Canvey gain a free-kick out to the right of Jerome John’s penalty area. Proths’s in swinger was heading for the bottom-left hand corner when John managed to push it around the post and out for a corner. The corner was only punched away by John, however so alert was the Billericay defence that in only about three touches of the ball it was back down the other end in the hands of Danny Potter.

Bertie Brayley replaced Steve Parmenter on the left wing and the fresh pair of legs from Bertie seemed to help the cause. His greediness in front of goal seemed to be just a figment of the past during today’s game as he was passing the ball freely and linking up well with the players around him. Not frightened to get stuck in too much. He’s has matured considerably as the season has progressed.

A minute later Neil Gregory was brought down just inside the penalty area by Jimmy Eastwood, the Referee pointed to the spot and Lee Boylan stepped up the equalise for Canvey and score his 41st of the season. Boylan hammered the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal sending Jerome John the wrong way and bringing Canvey back on level terms, much to the delight of the Yellow Army. John was a bit miffed at not being able to reach the ball and when clearing from his goal, he hammered it at the group of celebrating Canvey players, deliberately or not.

With at least a point salvaged so far, Canvey upped the pace slightly Lee Boylan fancied to score Canvey’s 99th of the season and in the same flight path of Ben Chenery’s earlier effort he also made way onto the edge of the six yard box. Boylan rifled his effort low and hard, but Jerome had lightening reactions and managed to get down to the ball in time to block Lee’s effort with his shins.

With fourteen minutes to go though, disaster struck again for Canvey. Gary Ansell collected the ball on the edge of the Canvey penalty area and with a clear line of sight at goal before him, on the half-volley he hammered the ball goal-wards from twenty yards. The ball sailed into the air and landed comfortably in the bottom-right corner of the net leaving Potter and the Yellow Army stunned. Many believed the Potter’s nightmare of the Roy Essendoh’s ‘half-way liner’ had come back to haunt him. But it was a superb effort and well taken from the ex-St. Albans forward.

The clock was running out for Canvey and from the re-start the Yellows gained a free-kick again on the right of the Billericay penalty area. Proths sent in the deep ball that was headed back and across goal by Boylan where it met the head of Jeff Minton, Mints got up well to the ball but for Billericay’s sake Jerome John was in the right place at the right time and managed to clasp the ball in mid-air without taking it over the goal-line. A minute later Protheroe had another free-kick well held by John. This was more central than the last efforts and while Boylan created the distraction Protheroe thumped the ball over the ‘Ricay wall, but the eagle-eyed John had his ground covered and collected the ball at his feet.

Six minutes to go and Michael Lee replaced Neil Gregory pushing Ollie Berquez up front, John Kennedy in the middle and with nothing to lose, the entire Canvey defence became a drop-off midfield with Chenery and Micky Bennett pushing right up into the centre circle, leaving poor Craig Davidson all on his own to deal with any big ‘hoofs’ up field that might come his way. However unfortunately for Crow this nearly cost Canvey another goal. One such big ‘hoof’ up field took an awkward bounce in the sand-pit of the centre circle and bounced right over Davidson’s head. Chris Stowe was already preparing for Crow to miss the ball and as he skipped past Micky Bennett too. Stowe noticed Danny Potter off his line. Stowe tried a speculative lob from about thirty yards out that didn’t actually go that far over Potter’s bar. Only seconds remained when Danny Gilley replaced Dean Morris and as the seconds run out so did the Canvey commitment.

The Billericay fans went wild after the game, celebrating as if they’d won the FA Cup, where as in reality they’d probably only achieved a top spot in the division. For the Canvey fans though it was time to give their congratulations to Aldershot Town and look forward another thrilling game against relegated Enfield at Park Lane this Saturday.

Full-time: Billericay Town 2, Canvey Island 1.
 

Match Report by Matt. Pictures by Ian.

Photos: Click on the right and left arrows above to scroll through the images. Click on any thumbnail to view it in a larger format. There are 12 images to view. If the arrow is dark there are more images to the right or left. Pictures are © Ian C. Walmsley / First Images 2003. Please do not copy these images without permission.

John Kennedy practices his pirouette with his new Billericay dance partner

Lee Boylan attempts to steal the ball from ex-canvey man Ollie Adedeji

"Heads Up" Ben Chenery throws the ball back in play

Gary Ansell scores Billericay's opener

Ben Chenery discovers first hand how dusty the pitch was

Callum Boylan (one on Friday) keeps a close eye on his Dad

Neil Gregory tries his karate kick in an attempt on goal

Steve Parmenter runs with the ball down the left flank

Jimmy Eastwood brings down Gregory inside the box...

... and Jerome John dives the wrong way as Boyland scores his 41st goal

Parmenter's substitute Bertie Brayley prepares to cross the ball from the left

Jeff Minton tussles with Billericay's Dean Morris

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John Kennedy practices his pirouette with his new Billericay dance partner

Photos: Click on the right and left arrows above to scroll through the images. Click on any thumbnail to view it in a larger format. There are 12 images to view. If the arrow is dark there are more images to the right or left. Pictures are © Ian C. Walmsley / First Images 2003. Please do not copy these images without permission.

Weather Conditions:  Dry & bright, on a very sandy, uneven pitch.

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