Match report by Simon Williams.
Photos by Amanda Protheroe.

An early goal from Danny Charge was enough to give Billericay the points on a tense afternoon. With the Blues' premier division survival not yet assured, and Bognor deep in the relegation dogfight, there was plenty riding on this game and it showed in some nervous football from both sides.

Billericay's injury problems were highlighted by the fact that the with both Russell Pond and Lee Kersey missing they had the supporters' and players' player of the year winners out, as was golden boot winner Billy Bricknell.

With so much riding on the outcome, it was not surprise that the opening exchanges were somewhat cagey. That all changed in the ninth minute when Billericay scored the only goal of the game. It wass one that Bognor 'keeper Anthony Ender will want to forget as his attempted clearance hit Charge and looped back into the area where the young striker had showed good alertness to follow it in and play the ball past Ender into the net.

Bognor needed to find a way back into the game, but against a team with the best defensive record in the division it was never going to be easy. Billericay, having taken an early lead seemed to content to sit back and try and hit their visitors on the break, but on occasion they went close to being caught out playing far too deep and not clearing their lines quickly enough.

Bognor were presented with their best chance of the game just after half time when a loose pass let in Jason Prior, but he fired over from in front of goal. A Dave Wareham cross found the head of Ryan O'Rawe, but the young defender couldn't keep his effort down with the goal at his mercy.

Danny Green saw his shot pushed over by Ender as the game opened up with Bognor throwing caution to the wind in an increasingly desperate search for the three points. It almost paid off for them late on when they were inches away from equallising through Prior but Ian Cousins cleared his header off the line and Billericay held on for the win.

BILLERICAY TOWN

Team: Paul Nicholls, Michael Haswell, Ian Cousins (c), Danny Green, Ryan O'Rawe, Chris Wild, Gareth Street, Matt Hall, Simon Thomas, Danny Charge, Dave Wareham (Harrison Chatting 60m)

Subs Not Used: Kieron English, Mike Marsh, Jacob Cleaver, Jamie England

Goalscorers: Danny Charge (8m)

Yellow Cards: TBC

Red Cards: TBC

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN

Team: Anthony Ender, James Crane (c), Lewis Ide (Charlie Oatway 73m), Pat Cox (Guy Rutherford 63m), Tim Bond, Mickey Demetriou, Richard Hudson, Michael Birmingham, Jason Prior, Matt Wood, Leon Redwood (Charlie Marshall 53m)

Subs Not Used: Harry Bowles, Pat Lawrence

Goalscorers: None

Yellow Cards: TBC

Red Cards: TBC

HT: 1-0
Attendance: 366

Referee: E. Kaye
Assistant Referees: E. Andrews, J. Garratt