Match report by Simon Williams.
Photos by Amanda Protheroe.

Billericay's pre season saw them play their penultimate game on Wednesday when league two Barnet were the visitors to a rainy New Lodge. With just one more friendly lined up before the league starts, Billericay boss Brian Statham took the opportunity to take another look at Lawrence Yiga and Greg Oates who hadn't featured for Town since the opening friendly game, against Leyton Orient.

Billericay welcomed back Ian Cousins and Ian Wiles at the heart of their defence, but were caught napping in the opening minutes of the match when a quickly taken corner was played to Antonio Murray who had an easy finish to give his side the lead.

Billericay were playing with Jack West as a loan striker, and he was all too often left isolated up front. He did have Town's best chance of the half when he showed good strength to run through onto a pass from Jamie Dormer, but his shot was saved.

Barnet's team contained plenty of pace, and a quick attack on the half hour mark saw them double their advantage when Leslie Kaojo-Osei finished off the move with a neat finish that gave Andy Walker no chance.

Town had the last chance of note in the half when West had another good effort saved, but they went in deservedly two goals behind. A quartet of half-time changes saw strikers Jo Flack and Billy Bricknell introduced as Town went to a 4-4-2 for the second half, but once again Billericay were caught cold at a corner in the opening minutes of the half, Clovis Kamdjo being the player to benefit for the visitors.

Billericay gave a good account of themselves thereafter, pulling a goal back when Oates powered a header past Barnet 'keeper Will Viner. Despite putting together some good passing moves of their own, Billericay were unable to narrow the gap further and Barnet eventually ran out winners. Any players hoping to feature against Wealdstone now have just one game, against, St Albans, to catch the manager's eye and earn a place in the side.

Billericay Team:  Walker, Oates, Dumas (Hamilton HT), Shinn (Muir 80m), Wiles, Cousins, Pond (Semanshia HT), Dormer, Yiga (Bricknell HT), West (Flack HT),  Wareham (Chatting 71m) 

Barnet Team: Will Viner, Ryan O'Neill, Ahmed Dean, Curtis Shaw (Birri 65m), Tom Evans, Clovis Kamdjo, Danny Hart, Joe Tabiri, Antonio Murray, Elliot Charles, Leslie Kaojo-Osei (Osubu 65m)

Barnet Subs: Ali Birri, Lee Harrison, Osubu