Billericay Town 2 Bromley 1 (Billericay win 4-3 on aggregate)

Tuesday 21st March 2006

The large travelling Bromley support came away disappointed from their midweek trip to Essex after losing out on a Westview (Ryman League) Cup final place 4-3 on aggregate thanks to a stunning second half display of fast attacking football from their hosts.

Bromley started very brightly Donal O’Sullivan forced a save out of Ricky Millard, before on 9 minutes they took the lead when Sam Wood latched on to a through ball and hit a low swerving effort past the goalkeeper.

Matt Game shot wildly over for Billericay as the home side tried to respond before Bromley were dealt a massive blow with the loss of Allan McLeod.

Joe Vines came on and had to play at right wing back in the 3-5-2 formation which began to look unbalanced as the half went on.

O’Sullivan had another effort saved while Joe Flack fired just wide for the home side.

However, Bromley’s best opportunity to extend their lead fell to Nic McDonnell when he latched on to a O’Sullivan flick on faced Millard one on one, but he hurried his shot and blasted it straight at the goalkeeper.

Gary Henty and Leon Hunter went close for the Essex side just before the break and Adam Greenaway hit the side netting with a header from a long throw, but it was still 1-0 to The Ravens at the half time break.

The second half saw Billericay totally dominate Bromley for long spells, they switched the play around and over run the midfield while The Ravens still looked unbalanced in their 3-5-2 formation and ended up chasing the ball.

The inevitable equaliser came on 54 minutes when a deep cross from the left was headed home by impressive target man Nathan Elder at the far post.

Game missed an easy looking chance to put the home side in front before the second goal finally came.

A quick free kick caught Bromley’s defence flat footed, Tutu Henriques cleared the initial effort off the line, but the rebound was fired home by Joe Flack on 65 mintes.

Almost immediately from the restart Wood had a great chance to equalise, but an unfortunate bounce after he had taken the ball around Millard saw the ball go narrowly wide of the post.

This was harsh on the young all action left winger who was once again Bromley’s best player.
After a brief change to 4-3-3 Bromley switched again to 4-4-2 with Gardner replacing the out of salts McDonnell and finally got back into the game, but they still didn’t create any real chances despite more possession.

Colin Luckett was on the receiving end of a nasty looking elbow in the face from Flack, who somewhat surprisingly was only booked by Referee Forrester. Despite a few late corners nothing fell for The Ravens and Billericay ran out deserved winners.

Billericay: Millard, Henty, Kerrigan, Brown, McSweeney, Dormer, Game, Hunter, Elder, Flack, Collins. Subs: Poole, Simmons, Vincent, Colton, Brightly.

Bromley: Walker, McLeod, Luckett, Henriques, Willy, O’Sullivan, Greenaway, Boateng, Carroll, McDonnell, Wood. Subs: Vines, Stone, Silk, Gardner.