Match report by Simon Williams. Photos by Amanda Protheroe.
Billericay wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a win at Maldon Town that was more convincing than the scoreline might suggest. Jo Flack's goal midway through the second half was all that separated the two sides in the final analysis, however Billy Bricknell and Nick Muir both hit the woodwork for Brian Statham's new-look team.
There was a new face in the centre of midfield for Billericay with Fiston Manuella being given a chance to earn a place in the squad. James Baker and Chris Sullivan both started as they aimed to demonstrate their fitness ahead of the season's opener against Wealdstone next Saturday.
The game was an often scrappy affair, largely down to a referee who took fussiness to new extremes, giving the game no chance to flow.
The best chances of the first half all came Billericay's way in a five minute period on the half hour mark. Firstly Russell Pond launched a long throw into the box that eventually fell at the feet of Billy Bricknell whose shot was, somewhat fortuitously, turned onto the post by the Maldon keeper. Minutes later Billericay were again denied by the keeper as Manuella's shot was tipped over. The resultant corner was played out to Michael Shinn who, with the whole goal to aim at, shot wide.
The second half saw the usual rush of substitutions, and it was a player that Billericay brought on at half time that broke the deadlock. The ball was played into the box where Bricknell got the faintest of flicks to divert it to Jo Flack who scored with a good finish.
There was still time for another substitute, Nick Muir, to hit the bar when he broke clear down the Billericay right, but Maldon seldom troubled Billericay who kept their second clean sheet of the week.
After an occasionally frustrating pre-season, Billericay will go into the Wealdstone match in good heart after two wins this week. It looks as though manager Brian Statham is close to finallising his squad, and all that remains is to ensure that all the new faces gell together quickly.
