Billericay Town U23s 2 Earls Colne 1

Essex Premier Cup Round One, Saturday 17th October 2020 

My second game of the day saw me dash over to New Lodge and Billericay Town FC as their U23 side were hosting Earls Colne in a Essex Premier Cup First Round tie, and it saw a MOTM performance from John Sasere help the hosts to victory and set up a Second Round tie at home to Alresford Colne Rangers.

Now the hosts, also known as Billericay Town Reserves, are playing in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division and have had a very good start to the season, winning four of their six games to sit second in the division, only behind leaders Hullbridge Sports U23s on goal difference.  And they had won 2-0 at New Lodge last time out against Frenford so came into this one full of confidence.

The hosts in fact had not lost in the league since their opening weekend loss at Saffron Walden Town, so were unbeaten in five coming into this one too, and they welcomed Earls Colne down from North Essex who ply their trade in the Essex & Suffolk Border Premier Division.

Earls Colne had drawn four of their six league games so far, so were obviously hard to beat, and they had drawn their last contest at home to strugglers Flitch United, in fact their last three outings had been 0-0, 1-1 and 1-1, with their only win coming on the opening day of the season at Hatfield Peveral by a scoreline of 2-1.

The visitors had also played four of their six games at home, so this was only their third one away from home this season, although both away days so far had resulted in a win and a draw, so they were unbeaten away from home!!!  The other away game other than Hatfield Peveral was a 1-1 draw at second placed Colne Athletic so that was a very heartening result indeed.

So not many goals in Earls Colne games so far on average, seven for and eight against, whilst Town U23s had netted fourteen and conceded nine in their six games, so not a bucket load of goals so would we see the same here, and throw into the mix an U23 development side against a tough Step Seven outfit, it would be interesting to see what would happen here.

Well, it looked like Earls Colne had grabbed the perfect start in this one when a free kick spilled by the keeper was forced home from close range with ninety seconds on the clock, however, their celebrations were cut short after a assistant flag had gone up meaning offside and no goal.

The hosts then took over proceedings after that and twice struck the frame of the goal as they looked to try and edge ahead, but in the 26^th minute they did just that when after a handball inside the area after a superb run, Sasere stepped up to convert the spot kick with ease.

The young hosts caused the visitors plenty of problems as there pace and athleticism was proving hard to deal with, but with three minutes of the half remaining Earls Colne were gifted a leveller as a poor mistake at the back allowed Keiran Adams to get in and round the keeper before slotting home, and just like that the visitors were all square heading into the half time break.

Half Time Billericay Town U23s 1 Earls Colne 1

The visitors actually began the second period well, but in the 56^th minute fell behind once again after a decent ball in found the impressive Sasere who produced a wonderful volley to found the net and send the youngsters back in front.

Earls Colne though were the better side in the second period and created several decent chances to attempt to bring themselves level, forcing a couple of decent stops from the keeper and seeing a corner go inches wide of the far post, although the hosts were always dangerous on the break through Sasere and others, including left winger Gabriel Ipanga Mbambo, who was often an outlet for the home side.

Sasere almost completed his hattrick but was thwarted on one such attack from the hosts, whilst another effort was cleared off the line, and towards the end with the hosts under severe pressure from the visitors, they curled an effort off the bar and over, it would have been a superb goal had it found the top corner.

But it was the visitors who somehow failed to find a leveller after going close on a number of occasions towards the end too, with one header looking like it had found the net, but it had gone inches wide and gone round the back of the net but it looked like it had gone in, but after a few moments a goal kick was rightly given.

The hosts did manage to cling on though after riding their luck it has to be said, and it is they who take their place in Round Two of the Premier Cup and another home tie against Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier opposition.  Commiserations to Earls Colne though who gave a very good account of themselves here and should have probably got more from this one than they did.  Another enjoyable game though!!!

Full Time Billericay Town U23s 2 Earls Colne 1