Billericay and Concord Rangers found goals hard to come by as they met at a windy New Lodge on Tuesday evening.

For an hour the game was largely unmemorable, with the Blues losing both Greg Oates and Jay May to injury and neither side really able to carve out a clear-cut chance of note.

On the hour mark, Concord’s Harry Elmes picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to get himself sent off. Having collected his first booking for a late challenge on Benson Kpaka, he then foolishly picked up a second when he body checked Andy Thompson as they challenged for a bouncing ball that neither had much chance of reaching.

Concord re-organised, and with left back Teddy Nesbett left exposed, Junior Luke exploded into life, cutting inside the defender before unleashing a shot that drew a fine save from Dale Brightley as the former Billericay ‘keeper got the finest of touches to push the ball onto the bar.

With the game opening up, particularly down the Billericay right, the Blues were looking to get the ball into the box at every oppotunity. Despite the best efforts of the hard-working Dave Knight, they were unable to convert any of the crosses into goals and will be hoping Jay May is not kept out of the team for too long.

Team: Morgan, Oates (Tajbakhsh), Hawes, Kpaka, Swaine, Thompson, Luke, Semakula, May (Boot), Knight, Berry
Subs not used: Francis, Edwards, Avery