Billericay Town v AFC Hornchurch LIVE

Posted by GerryXGerry Smith Info:
Look, let's face it, I'm great. I just don't let it show in any way, shape or form on either the Brighter Breakfast or any sports reports.Posts by the author (66) in Sports News | 0 comments

Billericay Town  0-1  AFC Hornchurch

 

 

Aveley  0-3  East Thurrock United

 

 

——————————

 

 

FULL TIME:  It happens so often, doesn’t it.  A huge crowd, a disappointing game, a poor result.  ‘Ricay stay top, but only on goal difference.  Hornchurch, though, cement their play-off credentials.

At least East Thurrock United are holding their end up, winning 3-0 at half time.

As ever, thank you so much for logging on, and until Saturday, enjoy the festive season, and your football.

90th min – And 4 minutes of injury time.  Hornchurch almost doubled their lead, but Brightly cut out yet another centre from the left, then the hosts drove forward and a shot from 18 yards went just over the bar.  Grandstand finish maybe?

87th min – Not missed anything, with a Hornchurch player receiving treatment and not much else happening.  Consensus from the ‘Ricay faithful is that they don’t deserve to lose but have done nothing to merit any more than a goalless draw, so when you let one in that tends to cause a problem.

82nd min – As Billericay huff, and Hornchurch try to make the game safe on the break, confirmation comes through that the Rocks hero at Aveley is Sam Higgins, who helped himself to a hat trick in the first 20 minutes.  Drinks are all on Sam in the clubhouse tonight then.

77th min – So close to an equaliser.  A corner on the right, a header from inside the six yard box, and the Hornchurch keeper brilliantly puts it wide of the left post.  From that, another header goes inches over the bar.

Attendance:  An unbelivable 1,106 are crammed into New Lodge for this one.

73rd min – As another aimless Billericay shot from inside the left hand edge of the area goes high and wide, the old guy next to me has now become fixated on the ref.  Admittedly, he does look around 12, but  he seems to be trying to let the game flow.  One or two mistakes, but then how many do players and managers make in the course of 90 minutes, too?

68th min – Plenty of pressure from Billericay now, a couple of promising moves to the edge of the area, but again no killer final ball.  The home fans are now getting on the ref’s back.  That’s a sure sign that they think the game is slipping away.  Plenty of time yet though.

63rd min – Goodness me, the Rocks are wreaking havoc at Mill Field.  East Thurrock United 3-0 up away at Aveley in the first 20 minutes!  Striker!

60th min – GOAL! ….. Billericay Town 0,  AFC HORNCHURCH 1  Now the touchpaper is lit!  From nowhere Hornchurch take the lead.  A swift move down the left, a centre which Dale Brightly couldn’t get to, and TOMMY BLACK slotted home at the far post after a bit of a goal line scramble.  Game on at last!

58th min – Both sets of supporters are trying to create a bit of atmosphere, but with the teams cancelling each other out so thoroughly, the chants become muted after a few seconds.  Nobody’s fault really, two closely matched sides, but when clear cut chances are so few, it’s going affect the crowd.

53rd min – While there’s little going on here at New Lodge, what a start for the Rocks!  2-0 up at Aveley already!  Get in there!

51st  min – Word reaches through that East Thurrock United have taken a precious early lead in their relegation six pointer at Aveley, which is a 3pm kick off.  Oh yes!

49th min – Ooh, so unlucky for Hornchurch.  A free kick on the left, from about 22 yards out, a great shot, keeper beaten, but it agonisingly cannons off the crossbar and is eventually scrambled clear.  Living by the seat of their pants, there, ‘Ricay.

47th min – Bright start from Billericay via the more direct route.  Long kick by keeper Brightly, a header on inside the Hornchurch half, but eventually a tame lob over.

3.03pm – Kick Off!  Let’s hope for a few goals and jolly japes.

——————————

HALF TIME:  Not the greatest of 45 minutes but not the worst.  Plenty of effort and commitment, but the pace of the game is dictating things rather than the quality of the final ball, which is sorely needed from both sides.  Time for a quick Bovril and pie then it’s back with the second half.  Laters.

Billericay 0-0 Hornchurch HT (right click then save link / target to download)

43rd min – An exchange of set pieces from either side ends in no attempt at either goal.  Billericay look to break from the Hornchurch corner, though, and for a split second it looks like something’s really on.  But instead of delivering a pass to the onrushing forward, the ball is held up and the opportunity lost.

39th min – Back come ‘Ricay, and after some nice work down the middle, the shot goes in from 22 yards, which, however, goes harmlessly wide.

38th min – Ooh, that should have been the visitors in the lead.  A corner on the right went right across the six yard box, yet with the Hornchurch attacker unmarked inside the six yard box, he fails to connect.

35th min – It’s becoming a bit more attritional.  Plenty of endeavour and commitment, just lacking that bit of quality.  It seems that Billericay’s chief for of attack is to crowd the six yard box at set pieces and see what happens.  On the plus side, very little hoofing from either team.

32nd min - Back come the visitors, who force a corner.  That’s easily defended by not cleared properly and from that, a cross on the left hand edge of the area gets to the far post but the header goes wide.

29th min – Another corner for Billericay on the right – although it must be said was down to excellent Hornchurch defending – but from that a header from about 10 yards sails harmlessly wide of the left hand post.

25th min - Ooh, a bit more action!  A Billericay shot inside the area on the left is well saved and then, from the kick upfield, defender James Hawes is crudely upended.  No yellow card though.  Hmmmmmm.

23rd min - Plenty of hurly burly from both sides but very little created.  Speaking of which, that turn of phrase reminds me of Hurdy Gurdy Mushroom Main by Neil.  Irrelevant but nice nonetheless.

16th min – Back come ‘Ricay down the right and win a corner.  From that, there’s a scramble at the Blunts Wall Road End goal, but somehow the ball goess out whilst Hornchurch defenders end up in the net.  For a moment a flare-up looks to be on but the ref does well to calm things down before a goal kick is awarded.

13th min – Another dangerous break from the visitors, down the right, the cross goes in, but there’s no purple shirt in the immediate vicinity to have a clear shot on goal.  From the resulting scramble on the edge of the area, the ball eventually gets to Brightly.  A worrying moment or two though.

10th min – Hornchurch respond in kind down the right and gain a corner.  From that, a shot goes in from about 12 yards, but Dale Brightly again saves comfortably.  A good lively start to this game.

8th min – Another Billericay cross on the left comes in, and is hurredly headed away for a corner on the right.  The Hornchurch keeper flaps at it but the ref gives him a free kick.  Hmmm, these keepers, far too protected these days.

5th min – A fair tame Hornchurch shot from 25 yards out is easily dealt with by Dale Brightley.  The away fans are in good, albeit crude and abusive, voice.

3rd min – Ooh, that was close already.  Hornchurch mis hit a clearance, and eventually from that, inside the area by the byeline on the left hand side, a ‘Ricay shot hits the side netting.

2.00pm – Kick Off!  Oh yes!

——————————

1.58pm – The teams, as usual, come out to a mix of Thunderbirds and Rocky, the PA man showing his age there.  I do like the Hornchurch purple shirts and white sleeves.  Looking quite seasonal.

1.55pm  While we’re waiting for the teams to come out, we shouldn’t forget there’s an equally vital game going on just down the A13 in an hour’s time.  Second bottom East Thurrock United desperately need more points, despite having games in hand, and travel to the team immediately above them, Aveley.  Either a dour battle or another Christmas cracker at Mill Field.  Or somewhere in between.  I’m great at this football prediction lark.  Who’s Lawro>

1.50pm  You can always tell it’s going to be a good crowd when the seats are filling up on either side of the pitch and the standing area by the burger bar and players tunnel is packed a good quarter of an hour before kick.  Plenty of chat and laughter abound at the moment.  Also delighted to see my son in good spirits too.  He’s a New Lodge regular you know.  Poor chap.

1.45pm – Team News  Here’s the line-up Craigy Boy’s gone with to grab the points this afternoon:   Brightly, Berry, Hawes, Kpaka, Swaine (c), Wild, Sobers, Poole, Collis, May, Onwubiko.  Subs: Blackwell, Cousins, Chatting, Radley, Ottley.

1.30pm – A very good afternoon from an unseasonably mild New Lodge for this afternoon’s Christmas treat.  Today it’s the turn of Ryman Premier leaders Billericay Town to take centre stage.  Craig Edwards’ impressive outfit have surprised everyone except themselves with the great season they are having.

In their way this afternoon is the well respected AFC Hornchurch.  In fourth position themselves, and with a large travelling support, there is an air of expectancy on their part.  It will be no pushover, this, for ‘Ricay.

Elsewhere, John Coventry’s resurgent East Thurrock United will be looking to move within a point of Ryman Premier safety and above their opponents when they visit near neighbours Aveley in a real relegation six-pointer.

As ever, keep refreshing this page every few minutes, and another dramatic afternoon of, ahem, drama on the football field will unfold before your very eyes.

Game on!