Match Report by Jason Thain.
Photos by Amanda Protheroe.

Steven Ferguson’s work on the right-hand side may well have deserved to win this game, but the weather was to come to Harlow’s rescue. Ferguson ran fully the length of the pitch, beat his man and then delivered the ball to Billy Bricknell to tap in from 6 yards in the 36th minute.

The game started in heavy rain, with Wayne Semanshia coming in on the left for Dave Wareham (hamstring) and Lynvall Duncan captaining the side for the first time. Harlow Town fielded a multitude of changes, perhaps with their forthcoming F.A. Cup First Round tie in mind.

The first half was a fairly equal affair. Harlow passing the ball around nicely, and winning a fair few corners, but most of their final balls ended up in Tucker’s arms. Billericay managed to create chances too, but Jason Hardy in the home team’s goal didn’t have too many difficult saves to make.

A minute after Ferguson had combined with Bricknell to put Billericay ahead, James Bunn missed the opportunity to equal things up when he missed the empty net after Tony Tucker had miscontrolled the ball.

Shortly before the break, the rain turned to snow. After the restart, puddles began to collect on the pitch, and the surface slowed noticeably as the snow began to settle.

Perhaps it was the conditions that led to Dumas fouling Clark Akers, which saw the ref point to the spot. Harlow’s skipper, Bunn, took the penalty, which Tucker saved well to his left. Billericay broke, and Bricknell had one last shot at the other end, before the ref stopped to consult with his assistants. A quick word followed with the two benches, and the game was called off in the 55th minute – presumably due to the waterlogged, slippery pitch and poor visibility.

Both teams will go at it again on Tuesday 11th November, when a result must be achieved on the night.

Billericay Town: Tucker, Marron, Dumas, Duncan (C), Trott, Heffer, Semanshia, Hunter, Bricknell, Deane, Ferguson
Subs Not Used: Flack, Henry, Chatting, Frankis, Worster

Harlow Town: Jason Hardy, Michael Gliddon, Ted Llewelyn, Jack Lampe, Paul Kear, Clark Akers, Leon Lallite, Jordon Fowler, Jamie Richards, James Bunn (C), Danny Green
Subs Not Used: Tom Bruno, Chris Sargent, Craig Charles, Tom Querry

HT: 0-1

Referee: Adrian Oldershaw
Assistant Referees: John Burdett, Nigel Bond
Attendance: 209