An hour or so in the car to New Lodge, home of Billericay Town. The Lower Car Park is still closed and I wonder if, in truth, they sold it for redevelopment in 1992. Billericay are 10th in the League with 41 points from 25 games. W11, D8, L6. Among their ranks is former Saint, Gary Ansell. City are second with 52 points from 26.
Cookie selected the same line-up as Saturday. Wilmot in goal, 4 at the back: Moran, Brown (C), Campbell, and Naylor; 4 in the middle: Kean, Challinor, Stirling and Young; and up front: Martin and Crawshaw. The same bench: De Souza, Slinn, Evans and Deacon.
This was dreadful.
On a very cold night with a biting crossfield wind, City couldn't string two passes together. I can't remember seeing so many players have such a bad day at the office. Crawshaw worked hard throughout and Young showed flashes of his pace and skill in the first half but City could not put a shot on target until the last few minutes of the game to test the home Youth team keeper. Brown and Campbell were solid but the rest did not achieve a personal score over 5/10.
Billericay are a workmanlike side, tight on their man in defence. Their goal came after 20 minutes when their tall No. 5, Moore was allowed a free header from a corner 3 yards from goal. 1-0.
The Travelling City Faithful expected an improvement in the second half but it did not come. Towards the end of the game, Cookie brought on De Souza for Martin, and then Slinn to play up front in place of Moran, switching to 3 at the back. A couple of chances came. Slinn screwed the ball wide from 15 yards. Young forced a full length save from a fierce shot. Moran might have been given a penalty. Young put the ball into the net but was ruled to have handled. A Crawshaw cross was untroubled. Nothing went right.
F.T. 1-0.
This was very disappointing and the mood of the players in the clubhouse after the game matched that of the Saints fans. On the night Town were the better side. City created a couple of chances towards the end of the game which, on another day might have got them out of trouble but it was too littlle, too late. A poor display overall.
Entertainment 4/10. Atmosphere 5/10. Technical Merit 3/10. Referee 2/10. |
