HORNCHURCH 0 BILLERICAY 0
The only change from Saturday was that Ben Boyce came in to the
starting line up. Billericay started strongly, James Baker racing past
Ronnie Fletcher and hitting his shot just wide. A Danny Green free kick
was then deflected via Fletcher out for a corner, which Darren Behcet
dealt with comfortably. Urchins, kicking towards the windmill end of
the ground, almost scored with their first attack. Andy Tomlinson
played a long ball up to Duane Jackman who ran powerfully along the
left and then cut inside and his low cross found Jo Flack whose first
time shot was cleared off the line by Dave McSweeney. A Billy Coyne
cross into the goalmouth eluded both Ben Boyce and Duane Jackman, and
at the other end Green made a good run on the left and played the ball
low into the centre, but the linesman’s flag was up long before Baker touched the ball into the net.
The referee seemed determined to stamp his authority on the match when he handed out a long lecture to Jamie Dormer, and then followed up by booking Jamie shortly afterwards for what to many appeared to be a perfectly legitimate tackle, and from the free kick, Billericay almost took the lead, when Russell Pond’s excellent free kick brought a magnificent save from Darren Behcet who dived to his right to tip the shot around the post, and then caught the corner kick as it came over.
Pond then scythed down Elliot Styles, and a minute later Dave McSweeney was very fortunate to remain on the pitch following a very late mistimed tackle on Michael Spencer who needed lengthy attention before being able to continue. Jonathan Hunt became the next victim of a late tackle and from his free kick Ben Boyce moved in but was pulled down. Hunt took the free kick and Lee Kersey headed clear. Jo Flack opened up the play with a long ball out to Michael Spencer and the resulting cross was well held by keeper Andy Walker, and in their next attack Duane Jackman saw his shot deflected out for a corner. Billericay had by now lost their earlier superiority although they caused some concern when Green nearly broke through, and was stopped by a well timed Fletcher interception. Matt Hall tried a long throw into the goalmouth and Behcet gathered. Close to half time Hunt sent Boyce away on the right but Ben hit his shot wide of the goal.
Hornchurch had much the better of the second half, which began with a good through pass by Andy Tomlinson to Jo Flack who then slipped the ball inside for Duane Jackman, but Walker was quickly off his line to grab the ball. Elliot Styles sent a powerful header up to Flack whose shot was touched around the post for a corner, and a Boyce shot was blocked, with Styles heading the ball back to Michael Spencer, whose shot was well saved by Walker. Spencer then put Dormer clear on the left and Jamie glided the ball inside to Flack, and Jo hit his shot just inches over the bar. Boyce went close with an opportunist lob from outside the area, and the ball landed on the roof of the net, and Billy Coyne sent Boyce away again, but Ian Cousins came in quickly to tackle to concede a corner.
Hunt as usual took the kick and Ronnie Fletcher headed over. Another Hunt corner was cleared, and when Hunt and Dormer combined on the left, Jamie played the ball back to Jonathan whose chip into the middle saw shots by Flack and Jackman scrambled off the line in quick succession, the ball bobbing tantalising on the line before eventually being hooked to safety. Mark Janney and Ross Wall replaced Boyce and Jackman, as Urchins powered forward. Dormer won a corner and Hunt’s kick was punched away by Walker, but in a rare Billericay counter attack Fletcher had to concede a corner. Pond sent the ball over, and it was headed back to Danny Slatter and his shot was blocked before the ball was finally cleared. Almost on time Spencer and Wall combined and Spencer’s goal bound shot was well saved by Walker.
The second goalless draw in succession, and the last time this happened was in December 1999 when there were successive goalless draws against Tring and Tilbury. Tonight’s match was also a notable occasion as the Urchins brand new multi thousand pound boardroom was opened.
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