Concord Rangers 0 Billericay Town 0

Vanarama National League South, Sunday January 2nd

The first Sunday of the New Year saw me over at Thames Road on Canvey Island for a Vanarama National League South Essex Derby Part Deux between Concord Rangers and Billericay Town although sadly it failed to live up to its billing as the sides played out a drab goalless draw.

These two had met on Boxing Day at New Lodge in rather damp and misty conditions and The Beachboys fought back from a goal down at the break to net a 3-1 win over the ten-man hosts, and since that result Concord had been brought down to earth with a bump after suffering a 3-1 home reverse to strugglers Chelmsford City, whereas Billericay picked up a superb goalless draw at then league leaders Ebbsfleet United.

Coming into this game then Concord sat 12^th in the division, and within touching distance of the play off positions, Billericay despite that terrific result were still bottom of the pile and three points behind second bottom Braintree having played a game more, however they knew a win here against the Beachboys would see them draw level on points as Braintree’s game against Chelmsford had been postponed.

It is often said that two games close together between the same sides rarely go the same way, so could Concord buck that trend and do a quick double over their Essex rivals or could Billericay gain revenge for that Boxing Day loss and build on that awesome result at Ebbsfleet, well let’s find out shall we.

If truth be told, not a lot happened in what turned out to be a fairly poor game, the pitch did not help proceedings, it looked very tired it must be said although considering the amount of rain that had fallen in the last week or two, it wasn’t really a surprise, and that coupled with some poor play from both sides, it wasn’t a recipe for entertainment.

It says a lot when the one of the most exciting things to happen was a lovely rainbow during the first half following some heavy run and then proceeding sunshine, it was a lot brighter than what was being offered on it, any efforts on goal from either side, which were few and far between, were straight at the keepers who had very little to do for the entire game.

One of the only major incidents to occur came seven minutes into the second period when Concord were reduced to ten men after Reid was shown a second yellow for a foul on Stevenson on the far side, and you felt this may give the visitors a boost and hand them a great opportunity to maybe grab a massive three points.

However, it didn’t really change anything, and it was hard to tell one side had a player missing, and the game continued in its rather mundane state, with neither side able to gain control and have a spell of any sort of pressure.

Could anyone nick this contest though? Would we get a goal? It almost happened as in around the 98^th minute and with the final act of the game, Billericay should have won it as a ball into the box bounced around inside the area, and it fell to skipper Chambers six yards out, but he failed to connect with the ball and the home keeper Roberts gladly fell on the ball and smothered it, and that was that.

Concord remain 12^th and only two points off the play-off spots, whilst Billericay grab their second away 0-0 in a week but remain bottom now two points behind second bottom Braintree Town who have two games in hand on them now.

Full time Concord Rangers 0 Billericay Town 0