Isthmian Premier Division Play Off Semi Final, Wednesday 29th April
Another evening and another play off semi, this time it was the turn of the Isthmian Premier Division the tie at New Lodge between Billericay Town and Chatham Town, Essex Vs Kent, and a hug crowd duly turned up to watch to see who could make the Bank Holiday weekend final for a chance to play National League South football next term.
The hosts were looking to go all the way in this play off series, and at least get past the semi final stage after last years heartbreak when they missed out in the title on goal difference before losing at home in the play off, but they regrouped and under Danny Scopes have mounted another charge for promotion, finishing third in the division and two points behind rivals Aveley, Scopesy's old club, and miles behind runaway leaders Folkestone Invicta, who won the division by twelve points and at a canter.
This means another play off semi final, and they are up against a Chatham Town side who finished fourth and only three points behind tonight's opponents, the visitors finished ninth last season and thirteen points off a play off spot, so this season has been a much improved campaign for the Kent side, they were looking to upset the apple cart this evening and reach the play off final.
Billericay won both meetings between the two clubs during the regular season, netting a 2-1 win at New Lodge back in November before a 1-0 win in Kent in late January, both games then well competed and close, and there was no reason why tonight's game would be no different, no doubt another fiercely fought contest was going to take place in front of a good atmosphere, who could hold their nerve in such a big contest?
Well, the hosts have been in scintillating form of late, since they lost 2-0 at St Albans back on January 27th, they haven't lost and went on a run of ten straight wins until they were held by Welling United in their final league outing last time out, so to say they were coming into the playoffs in form was an understatement, in fact they have only lost two league games this calendar year, the other loss coming at home to Hashtag United, a game I attended on January 3rd, hope that's not a bad omen for the hosts!!!
That's two defeats in twenty, and seventeen wins, did Chatham have a chance, well of course they did, they qualified for this playoff on merit and will pose a stiff test for the hosts, as proven in both their league games this season, and their form towards the end of the seasn was also pretty good, after losing at Dulwich Hamlet in late February, their only two defeats came against Aveley and local rivals Dartford, that's two defeats in twelve, and before those losses they had been on a run of seven games unbeaten which had a run of five successive wins.
And they ended the season with three straight wins too, culminating in a 2-1 win over Lewis, the previous games saw them win 4-0 and 6-0, so plenty of confidence boosting from those games, so tonight's game would certainly be played between two highly confident outfits, how would it go?
Well, it looked like the hosts would cruise to the win early on, they found themselves two goals up inside the opening twenty minutes as they really settled into the tie, the opening goal was a beauty, and it came after twelve minutes, Jon Benton curling an absolute beauty into the far corner, and then in the 17th minute it was two nil, Jack Evans sending in a free kick for Frankie Merrifield to nod home at the back post, it had been the perfect start for The Blues, and the majority of the 2,717 in attendance were in good spirits.
Chatham did have a lot of the ball in the opening forty five minutes but could not find an end product, and Billericay always looked dangerous when they made their way forward, and in the 42nd minute it looked as if the tie could well be done when the hosts made it 3-0, another ball in by Evans this time found Keon Lewis-Burgess who applied the finishing touch, Chatham were furious that a free kick had not been awarded in the build up, but they now had it all to do to get back into the contest.
The large Chatham following behind one of the goals to their credit had kept singing away and encouraging their side on despite how the opening half was going, and a minute before the forty five was up they were given a life line, and yes I missed it looking at my phone, oops, but I was told it was a lovely finish from Sam Sene-Richardson and this certainly gave Chatham some hope of a revival as the teams headed into the dressing rooms.
It was weird, even though Billericay had a 3-1 lead heading into the second half, you felt some nervousness amongst the home crowd, and even the players seemed a touch nervous too, that Chatham goal right on half time had certainly given them something to think about, and the visitors sensed this knowing another goal back would really make it interesting, and Chatham certainly were doing all they could to make that happen.
The Blues though were not without their chances to seal the game and make it more comfortable, on one occasion only a spectacular clearance off the line prevented the hosts from finding a fourth, Chatham then wanted a penalty but this fell on deaf ears, much to the visitors dismay, they also struck the post too, but, in the 71st minute they found a second goal to really put this tie back in the balance, Kian Moynes thumping home from inside the box, and those Chatham fans behind that goal were now really making some noise, and the nerves amongst the home ones were cranking up somewhat.
It was tense, could the visitors complete what looked an unlikely comeback when they went 3-0 down, the home side had to survive a few nervy moments before the game was out, and seven minutes of stoppage time didn't help the heartrate amongst anyone to do with the home side, but, they did manage to hold on and see the game out, and take their place in the final on Bank Holiday Weekend.
It had been a very entertaining play off match, played in front of a big crowd under the lights in what was a decent atmosphere, but a game played in the right way with no nastiness on or off the pitch, just how it should be, so well done to all, an enjoyable night and for the hosts their promotion dreams live on for another few days.
Full time Billericay Town 3 Chatham Town 2
So what of the other semi final tie this evening, an all Essex affair at Parkside, let's see what happened.....
Aveley 1 Brentwood Town 4
Hosts Aveley had finished runners up in the division and six points ahead of fifth placed Brentwood Town, but this meant nothing in this contest as the visitors netted three goals in added on time to take victory at Parkside. All the goal action came after the 75th minute, it had remained goal less until then, and when Bradley Sach handed the visitors a 76th minute lead, they may have thought that would be the only goal of the contest.
But no, in the 86th minute Jesse Nwabueze levelled for the hosts and you thought ok, maybe penalties would be needed to decide this one, but, after the referee indicated their would be a minimum of FOURTEEN minutes added on, Brentwood took full advantage of this additional time, seeing Ade Cole net a 97th minute penalty before Louie Johnson than scored in the 101st minute and they made it four in the 106th minute when Jesse Okulolu netted, sending the visitors through.
Quite a dramatic end to this one then, and a sad way for it to end for the hosts who have had an incredible season, but it ends here, but for Brentwood it continues.
It all means that on Bank Holiday Monday the final will take place at New Lodge, Billericay Town Vs Brentwood Town, that will be some occasion that's for sure in front of no doubt a sold out crowd too, it is a local derby in every sense of the word, and the prize at the end of it for the winners is National League South football for next season, no biggie then.....
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