A late penalty from Richard Halle was enough to see Billericay through to the next round of the FA Trophy after a scrappy match at home to Whitehawk.

Sam Berry was passed fit to play and he took his place on the right of a new-look midfield that also included Richard Halle who made his debut during the week.

In a stop-start game, Billericay looked lively in the opening exchanges but the first chance of note fell to the visitors when the lively Ben Godfrey drew a full length save from home ‘keeper Nicky Morgan with a well placed header. Town suffered an injury blow midway through the half when Greg Oates limped off, meaning Berry moved to right back and Benson Kpaka came on to replace Berry in midfield. Morgan was the busier of the two keepers in the first half, again saving from Craig Richards’ long range effort and after a half in which they were largely frustrated by the visitors’ tactics of getting as many men behind the ball as possible whenever they attacked, Billericay went in at half time knowing that they needed to find a way of unlocking the Whitehawk defence.

The arrival of Harrison Chatting at half time, and Courtney White midway through the second half, gave them a bit more pace and movement and chances fell to Jay May and David Knight who both went close with shots that were just off target.

With a replay looming, White made his mark, bursting past Marc Pullan only to be tripped in the box. Halle stepped up and confidently hit the penalty past Chris Winterton to give Billericay the win.

Morgan, Oates (Kpaka), Hawes, Halle, Swaine, Wild, Berry, Edwards (Chatting), May, Knight (White), Semakula
Subs not used: Radley, Avery