Billericay Town 1-1 Maidstone United - Hume praises his young stars

“The players have shown a lot of character,“ he told BBC Radio Kent. “We fought back (from Billericay‘s goal) and we believed in ourselves after we questioned the character the other week.

“I‘m pleased with a point. Both sides battled away in really tough conditions, and it probably reflects the game in the right way.”

The visitors generated the early pressure, with both Roland Edge and James Peacock long-range efforts grazing the crossbar in the opening 10 minutes.

But it was Stones‘ goalkeeper Andy Walker who stood firm in an almost solo-effort to repel the Billericay attack, as he was forced into a number of saves to keep the scoreline blank at the half.

On 18 minutes, the former Bromley goalkeeper got down well to save low to his right from Steven Ferguson, after the Billericay winger had outpaced Kevin Watson, then nine minutes later, the keeper made the save-of-the-match, flinging out a strong left hand to turn Jamie Dormer‘s close-range shot over the bar.

Between these two chances, Meshach Nugent rifled a shot on the turn wide after Peacock had flicked on an Aaron Lacy long throw.

Walker then denied both Dormer and Ferguson again before the match reached 40 minutes; the latter a point-blank block, which led to the Stones’best chance of the half.

The quick clearance found Lloyd Blackman free on the left & his early centre was met by a first-time left-footed shot from Roland Edge that flew just over the bar, with the home keeper Ronnie Worster beaten.

With three influential players (club captain Ben Lewis (back), Nathan Paul (thumb) and Elliot Bradbrook (thigh)) still missing from the starting line-up, and James Pinnock barely fit enough to take a place on the bench, Maidstone did well to deny the home side any clear opportunities early in the second half.

But the game changed with a double substitution by Billericay on 65 minutes.

The normally prolific Joe Flack and midfielder Leon Hunter were withdrawn, to be replaced by two speedy forwards, Dave Wareham and Bradley Woods-Garness.

The former, Wareham, had an immediate impact on the game, outwitting the otherwise impressive Ashley Ulph, to deliver a pinpoint cross onto the head of Billy Bricknell, only for the header to drop wide.

Bricknell made up for this on 71 minutes, when he found space between Watson and Ian Cox to head home a Ferguson cross, that Walker could only push in via his post.

The goal stung Maidstone‘s resolve, and Jay Saunders grabbed an equaliser five minutes later, firing home from close range after Peacock flicked on another Lacy long-throw.

As the game drew to a close, Billericay threw everything at the Stones’defence, but apart from a tame Ferguson shot into Walker‘s arms, neither side could find the way to goal.

When asked about Maidstone‘s injury problems after the game, and specifically the performance of the younger players (Ashley Ulph and James Peacock), Lloyd Hume rang their praises.

“He‘s (Ulph) done well since he‘s come in and now he‘s in the side on merit,” he said.

“Butch had done really, really well. I thought ‘PK (Peacock) did well today, battled away and worked hard. Ian Cox had probably his best game for us, and his experience really shone through.”

Better news on the injured players for Maidstone supporters after the game, with Pinnock hopeful to be fit for next Saturday, and Lewis, Paul and Bradbrook likely to be back in contention by the two big Christmas Derby matches.

Billericay Town: Ronnie Worster, Neil Marron, Ashley Dumas, Steve Heffer, Lynvall Duncan, Jamie Dormer, Steven Ferguson, Adrian Deane, Billy Bricknell, Joe Flack (Dave Wareham 65), Leon Hunter (Bradley Woods-Garness 65).
Subs: Wayne Semanshia, Solomon Henry, Jack Buckfield.

Goal: Billy Bricknell 71

Booked: Steve Heffer 77

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Ashley Ulph, Neil Smith, Kevin Watson, Ian Cox, Roland Edge, Aaron Lacy, Jay Saunders, Meshach Nugent, Lloyd Blackman, James Peacock.
Subs: Ian Selley, Ant Bodle, Lloyd Hume, James Pinnock, Steve Northwood.

Goal: Jay Saunders 76

Booked: Lloyd Blackman 77, Roland Edge 90

Attendance: 505
Referee: Mr Robert Hyde (Shoreditch, London E2)
Assistants: Mr Graham Bellingham (Grays, Essex) & Mr Mark Spradbery (Grays, Essex)