Blues 1 Billericay Town 1

Leiston were left to rue missed first half chances as they played out an entertaining draw with Billericay at Victory Road in front of a crowd over 200 in a match sponsored by EDF ENERGY. The Blues, needing three points this afternoon, now look very likely to miss out on the play offs as they sit four points off the target with four games remaining writes James Spink. The visitors kicked off proceedings attacking the Estate End & after just seven minutes a speculative up & under from the visitors held up in the wind & landed on the top of the bar, although Ashlee Jones always looked in control of the situation. The home side started brightly & were moving the ball around well & should really have gone ahead after 13 minutes. Gareth Heath's superb slide rule pass sent leading scorer Christy Finch racing clear, but with just the keeper to beat he lifted his effort over the bar. Midway through the first Stuart Boardley then sent a dipping volley from 25 yards against the crossbar after the ball had been headed clear, but in the 43rd minute the home side finally made their pressure count when a free kick from Billy Clark wide on the right wasn't cleared by anyone in a white shirt & as the ball bounced around inside the area Joe Jefford was the first to react & lashed the ball home high into the net. The defenders goal meant the Blues took a deserved lead into the break. The second half began with Giddens saving well from Gareth Heath, but the visitors were certainly looking busier in the second period & drew level in the 53rd minute. The ball broke free to striker Tom Derry & he let fly from fully 30 yards & his sweetly struck shot swerved past Ashlee Jones in the Leiston goal! It was a top drawer goal that gave the Leiston keeper absolutely no chance. The home side continued to dominate possession, but the Essex side continued to look dangerous breaking with pace, but neither side were really creating too many clear cut chances, Gareth Heath went close on a couple of occasions & despite Leiston forcing a succession of corners late on & three minutes of injury time, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in the end.

FT - Blues 1 Billericay Town 1

Blues - Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Boardley (Winter 84 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Clark (Taylor 90 mins) Ottley-Gooch, Finch, Brothers. Subs not used - Kerslake, Trotter & Rossis

Billericay Town - Giddens, Diallo, Stephenson, Hubble, Sanussi (Harett), Bevan, Monville, Poole, Derry (Sodje), Cox, Nesbitt (Fondrop Talop). Subs not used - Kouassi & Constable.

Match Sponsors EDF ENERGY Man of the Match - Tom Bullard

Attendance - 201