Femi Akinwande and Frankie Merrifield were on the scoresheet as Billericay Town continued pre-season with a 2-2 draw with Isthmian South East Division outfit Faversham Town.
KICK-OFF
It was a slow start to the game as both sides were getting minutes in the legs ahead of the new season. Troy Howard was lively on the right flank and his inviting delivery on 11 minutes failed to pick out a blue shirt.
After Faversham had a short period of possession, a moment of ruthlessness from Femi Akinwande gave us the lead with 25 minutes on the clock, the striker having time from distance to compose himself before his thunderous effort found the corner despite Jordan Gilmore getting a hand on the ball.
The 29-year-old had a perfect chance to double the lead just before the break as Liam Nash’s inch-perfect ball fell to his feet but captain Mark Newman tackled Akinwande before he got his shot off.
HALF-TIME: BLUES 1-0 FAVERSHAM TOWN
The Blues continued to dominate most of the ball and the pressure eventually told when Frankie Merrifield’s clincal header following a deep cross from the right couldn’t be stopped by Gilmore on 64 minutes. Only moments later and the Lilywhites halved the deficit with a good piece of play involving several players, resulting in Nathan Wood composing himself on the edge of the box before finding the top corner.
Nonetheless, Faversham were proving to be a threat in the final third and Tashi-Jay Kwayoe nearly turned in Kieron Campbell’s driven effort but the former failed to find the target. Substitute Elliot Long came close to restoring the two-goal cushion when Maxwell Appauh put the ball on a plate for the attacking midfielder, only for his strike to be deflected away for a corner.
A header from Eniye Amgbaduba in the dying embers ensured it was a draw, heading in from close range following a corner on the right.
FULL-TIME: BLUES 2-2 FAVERSHAM TOWN
The Blues are next on the road for the first time in pre-season when we make the trip to East Suffolk to lock horns with Leiston.