A late change of plan saw me at Bridge Avenue, Upminster for an Essex derby between AFC Hornchurch and Billericay Town in what was the hosts first home friendly of the pre season build up.
The Urchins are building up for life in the Ryman One North after relegation from the Premier last season and they seemed to have assembled a decent squad to fight for promotion straight back to the Ryman Premier. For Billericay Town it's another season in the Ryman Premier after last season's mid table finish and they were very much trying some different players out in this match as they look to build a squad to push on this season for the play offs they hope.
The hosts started the better and almost took the lead on 2 minutes as looping ball into the box was well controlled by George Purcell who then volleyed just wide of the upright. Two minutes later and great wing play down the left from Junior Luke saw a dangerous ball into the box result in two excellent saves from the Town keeper and then moments later another ball into the visitors area was not dealt with and saw Calvin Poku volley the loose ball way over the bar.
The hosts attacked again on 7 minutes and Junior Luke brilliantly controlled a forward pass before bringing the ball down and causing problems inside the box before he layed off to Calvin Poku who hit his effort wide of the target. Billericay had hardly threatened thus far and were being pushed back by the Hornchurch tide but just before the quarter hour mark they did threaten when a long throw into Hornchurch's box caused some issues but the ball was finally claimed by the home keeper.
The Urchins then continued their attack on the Blues goal and on 16 minutes a corner into Town's box bounced around before the ball fell loose but Calvin Poku could only hit his effort over the bar from close range as Billericay survived again. However a minute later the hosts were to take a deserved lead when a ball whipped in by Collis from the right was allowed to bounce by keeper and defender and Junior Luke managed to steal in at the back post and loop a header over the stranded keeper and into the far corner. AFC Hornchurch 1 Billericay Town 0.
The hosts continued to dominate and on 20 minutes they burst straight through the middle of the Town back line but a weak finish saw the keeper gather down to his left. Two minutes later more great football by Hornchurch saw a ball into the box from the right hit first time by George Purcell with his left foot which forced a great one handed save by the visiting keeper, who was keeping his side in this contest.
Town made a rare foray forward just before the half hour mark when a dangerous corner from the visitors was poked behind for another corner before more Urchin forward play, this time from a long throw, saw the ball flicked across the Town goal before it was just about cleared away from danger.
Then on 32 minutes came a great chance for Town to pinch a scarcely deserved leveller when defender hauled down striker inside the box resulting in a penalty for the visitors. Jamie Guy stepped up to take the spot kick and duly blasted it high and wide of the target which kind of summed up the Blues half. Hornchurch almost made them pay by almost getting through on goal but Town's keeper bravely dived at the feet of George Purcell, getting a smack on the head as a result. So the hosts were on top for most of the half and should of been more in front than they were but they still had a lead at least.
Half Time: AFC Hornchurch 1 Billericay Town 0
Billericay started the second half well and on 47 minutes a free kick from the visitors was well held by the Urchins keeper and then five minutes later the hosts were having to do more defending as a good effort from Town was again well saved down to his left by the keeper as Billericay looked to get back into the contest.
The second half was a much slower affair than the first as the tempo had dropped somewhat. On 57 minutes a re taken free kick from George Purcell was deflected just wide of the Town post for a corner and from this corner, which was cleared out to the right, George Purcell returned the ball into the box and the ball eventually fell to Calvin Poku who from six yards out couldn't get enough power behind the effort and it ended up rolling into the keeper's arms. It was another good chance for the hosts.
Just before the hour mark Town went close as a long ball into the Urchins box was headed inches over and then on 64 minutes, after a period of good football from the hosts which was full of energy and passing and movement, ended with a strike way over the bar. As the game entered the final twenty minutes both teams started to ring the changes which didn't help the tempo of the match at all although this is pre season so it's to be expected.
On 75 minutes Town wanted another penalty for handball inside the box but it was ruled just outside the box although still a decent position for a free kick. However the cross was well overhit out for a goal kick. Three minutes later and the hosts looked to have clinched the contest as they doubled their lead as a cross into the box was poorly cleared straight to Junior Luke who fired first time past the keeper into the roof of the net. AFC Hornchurch 2 Billericay Town 0.
This paved the way for more changes from either side which resulted in almost two different teams to the ones who had started as both managers used the final ten or so minutes to try out various trailists and others. The game was very stop start though as a result as the game began to wind down to its conclusion.
Town won another free kick in a dangerous position with six minutes to go but again poor execution saw it go well wide, much to manager Craig Edwards disgust and then two minutes later more good football from the hosts saw them almost get in on the end of a through ball but the visiting keeper was alert to the danger and came out to clear.
So a comfortable win for the hosts in the end. They look very good on tonights showing were as Billericay will see this as a useful exercise for some of their fringe players and trialists and no doubt manager Edwards will have more of an idea about them now after this. So a decent game of football which was competitive yet fair, which is all you can ask for, splendid.
Full Time: AFC Hornchurch 2 Billericay Town 0
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