Isthmian Premier Division, Tuesday 10th October
My second game of the month saw me over at New Lodge for an Isthmian Premier contest between mid table Billericay Town and strugglers Dulwich Hamlet in front of 690 on another mild October evening in South Essex.
The Blues are into their second season at this level following relegation from the level above two seasons ago, and they have began this one in a much better frame of mind and compared to last season at this time are in a much better position too, winning their first three games 1-0 and only losing one of their first nine competitive encounters, until they lost at home recently to Canvey Island, funnily enough 1-0.
They have also won all their cup games to date, winning three FA Cup ties to take their place in the Fourth Qualifying Round and also an FA Trophy tie at the weekend, so it's been a more than decent start to life this season, the same cannot be said for their opponents though who started the evening only outside the bottom four on goal difference.
Dulwich Hamlet themselves fell from Step Two into this division and like their opponents last season have not adapted well to their new division, picking up only seven points from a possible twenty seven so far this campaign, and they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first time of asking as well, losing a replay in the First Qualifying Round.
They have won two cup ties though, albeit one being in the County Cup against lesser opposition, and the other being at the weekend in the FA Trophy away from home, so at least they were coming into this one with a rare win and clean sheet, but this was going to be a tough test against a side who were playing with a lot of confidence.
The game kind of followed this pattern too, Hamlet did have a couple of decent openings in the opening forty five minutes, one which saw a rather awkward save from home keeper Dan Wilks glance off the bar and over, but apart from these moments the half belonged to the hosts in the main, and it was no surprise to see them ahead at the break when Moses Emmanuel provided a powerful finish after the ball had been slipped into him inside the box in the 27th minute.
And the early exchanges of the second period saw the hosts take complete control, they doubled their lead in the 57th minute when a Bradley Stevenson corner looked to go in straight off visiting keeper Will Lakin, but it seems FWP have given the goal to the hosts player, so he can have it, I'd rather that than an own goal if truth be told, but whatever happened it was a second goal for the hosts for sure.
And just two minutes later their was no doubting who grabbed the goal as Stevenson grabbed a quick double, as after he saw a close range effort saved by Lakin, he followed up to bury the rebound and at this point you felt the hosts could go on and score a few more, the visitors looked done.
However, the hosts took their foot off the gas somewhat after that third goal and allowed the visitors to get a bit more of the ball, they did apply a bit of pressure on their opponents and almost saw Wilks gift them a goal back when he made a mess of an effort which seemed to no danger at all and spilled it onto the post and thankfully for the stopper, back into his grateful arms.
Billericay though were good value for their win and applied all the damage in the opening hour, this win, their fifth of the season in the league, takes them up several places to fourth in a tight looking and early league table (it is still only October!!!) whereas Hamlet actually drop into the bottom four on goal difference after losing by three, both teams will be in different mindsets right now that is for sure.
Full time Billericay Town 3 Dulwich Hamlet 0
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