Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 3rd January
My first game of 2026 saw me over at New Lodge, Billericay, for an Isthmian Premier division contest between local rivals Billericay Town and Hashtag United, this was after most other games in the area fell foul of the freezing conditions, but thanks to the hosts 3G pitch, this one went ahead.
The club were duly rewarded with a decent turnout, 1,381, with around a couple of hundred travelling and seeing if their side could pick up an important win to help them get out of that bottom four of the division, they began the afternoon three points from safety knowing if they could grab a win at New Lodge then they would be level on points with fifth bottom Cheshunt albeit having played a game more.
They would have to do something they hadn't done since 6th September and only the third time this season though, win away from home, in fact they had only won five times in the league all season with their last win coming a month ago when they thrashed fellow strugglers Canvey Island 4-0 at home.
They had claimed a decent 2-2 draw at home to Aveley in their last league outing, ending a run of back to back losses, and they were up against a Billericay side who after a slow start were trying to rebuild their campaign, in fact at kick off they were as far away from the play offs as they were from the drop zone, nine points, in 11th spot, so if they could win today it would take them closer to the top five, however a loss would see them closer to the drop zone, so important for both for differing reasons.
The hosts had only one once in four league outings in December though, including a very disappointing loss at struggling Canvey Island last time out, so they definitely did not want to lose back to back to sides in the bottom four and especially lose a derby at home too in front such a big crowd, the majority who were hoping they could win this contest as well.
The hosts certainly started the game the better and looked the likelier to open the scoring, but just past the half hour mark they were stunned as Tags skipper Max Cornhill rose to power home a header totally unmarked despite their being several hosts players inside the box, but they all just stood and watched as Cornhill powered home, and for the rest of the half the Tags dominated and could easily have added a couple more, Town had lost their way and needed the half time whistle when it came that was for sure.
Could the Blues respond? They certainly did that as after starting the second half like they had begun the first, Alfie Cerulli produced a moment of magic with an overhead/shoulder flick to find the far corner, giving them a huge boost and the momentum, and they saw Charlie Ruff's long range effort strike the bar not long after as they came so close to taking the lead.
Had that gone in maybe the hosts would have gone on to win the contest, who knows, but instead it was Hashtag who retook the lead just beyond the hour mark, a lovely ball into Luke May-Parrott saw him control, take a touch before curling a lovely effort into the far corner, it was a beautiful finish and it had handed the visitors the advantage once again.
This knocked the stuffing out of the hosts who had been getting up a head of steam, and frustration had set in amongst the home fans and players once again, and again they seemed to have lost their way again, but after a period where they had to get over this set back, they began to apply pressure on the visiting back line as they searched for a route back into the game.
Hashtag though battling gamely and kept the Blues at arms length, their were some hairy moments for them though, one coming in stoppage time when an almighty scramble inside the box eventually saw Tags clear, and then with the last attack of the game Billericay thought they had salvaged a last gasp point, only for the goal to be ruled out for an infringement in the build up, I think it was for handball, but to be honest I wasn't quite sure, it kind of summed up the hosts day, but The Tags did hold on to record a fine win and an important one too.
The hosts management team came to chat to the referee at full time as well, they were obviously asking why the goal had been chalked off as well, nobody really knew why but it's another disappointing loss for The Blues who are now only six points above Hashtag United who are only in the bottom four on goal difference following this result.
Billericay Town 1 Hashtag United 2
Four other games survived the freezing weather today in the division, shall we see how those went:-
Brentwood Town 1 Cray Wanderers 4 (Att: 622)
It was second against sixth at The Brentwood Centre Arena but nobody saw what was to come as the visitors blew away their hosts in a devastating first forty five minutes. Saul Kader had given Cray a sixth minute lead before Alex Hernandez, a second from Kader & a Lateef Adaja late in the first half handed the visitors a 4-0 advantage at the half. Kymani Thomas did pull one back for the home side in the 77th minute but the damage had already been done as Cray inflicted only Brentwood's second home defeat of the season.
Burgess Hill Town 2 Lewes 1 (Att: 1,148)
The hosts charge for the play offs continued as they netted a late winner to see off Lewes at The Medical Travel Compared Stadium, Ben Pope put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute, Charlie Walker responded for Lewes on the half hour mark, but George Vorster netted in the 80th minute to hand the home side the win.
Chichester City 2 Carshalton Athletic 1
Hosts Chichester kept their play off charge on track after they came from behind to see off Carshalton Athletic at Oaklands Park, Noah Etienne Nzuzi had given the visitors the lead in the 21st minute and they held this advantage until twenty minutes into the second half when Joseph James Moore levelled, and he netted again with 75 minutes on the clock to help his side to all the points.
Folkestone Invicta 1 Chatham Town 2 (Att: 2,166)
A bumper crowd were in for this contest at Alcaline Stadium and it was Chatham who took all the spoils to keep themselves well inside the top five as they inflicted only league leaders Invicta's second loss of the season, and a first at home. Sam Sene-Richardson handed the visitors a 17th minute lead and this lead was doubled by Kian Moynes just before the hour mark, Berr Mason did net a consolation in added on time but it was too little too late as Chatham recorded a fine win at the runaway leaders.
Let's see the table after todays games:-
Burgess Hill & Chichester moved closer to the top five, Lewes & Billericay stay in mid table after disappointing losses today, Carshalton are now only a point above the drop zone after they lost and Hashtag won, there are only two points between the fourth bottom Tags and 15th placed Wingate & Finchley.
That concludes my first blog off 2026, hope you enjoyed!!!
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