Dunmow Group Stadium
National League South
Saturday 7th May
Braintree 0
Billericay 1
Already relegated Billericay picked up back-to-back away wins for the first time this season thanks to a debut goal from Robert Adams in a narrow 1-0 win over near neighbours Braintree; despite the visitors being reduced to ten men.
Braintree started the brighter with Gianni Crichlow a constant thorn in the Billericay side. After 11 minutes the 24-year-old performed a lovely turn to get away from Michael Chambers before finding Dejon Noel-Williams in the centre. However, the Grenadan international failed to score against his old club, firing his effort just wide of the target.
Ryan Maxwell's men kept up this pressure and once again went close to opening the scoring 12 minutes later. Ricay failed to clear a corner leading to a huge scramble in the six-yard box. The ball was scrapped away as far as Braintree’s Luke Pennell, whose powerful volley was headed off the line by George Wind; ensuring the two sides would go in at half time tied at 0-0.
The Iron started the second half with the same domination they’d had in the first period. Just past the hour mark Braintree’s top scorer Luke Holness did well to skip away from Toby Stevenson, but the 23-year-old saw his low effort smothered at the near post by Rhys Lovett.
These missed chances would come back to haunt the hosts as five minutes later Billericay took an arguably undeserved lead. Former Braintree midfielder Anderson Pinto laid the ball off to Adams, whose first time strike looped into the top corner; for the youngster’s first professional career goal.
Ten minutes later The Iron went close to levelling the scores when Crichlow was slipped in behind, but the former QPR youth player saw his ferocious effort parried away thanks to a fine reaction save from Lovett.
There would still be time for some late drama as a ten-man brawl resulted in Bromley loanee Stevenson receiving his marching orders for Ricay, forcing the visitors to play the final exchanges with ten men. Despite this setback Danny Brown’s men held on for a victory as their National League South journey comes to an end following four seasons in the sixth tier.
Defeat for Braintree sees their three-game unbeaten run come to an end with The Iron finishing 17th in the table. Victory for Billericay wasn't enough to save them with relegation confirmed last weekend, however The Blues are unbeaten against Braintree in five league meetings since 2019.
MOTM: Rhys Lovett (Billericay)
By Nathan Williams
Comments
Post a Comment