Grays Athletic 2–0 Billericay Town

From Mill Field

Ryman Premier

 

TWO late goals handed Grays Athletic the points as Billericay Town left Mill Field empty handed.

Substitute Dumebi Dumaka and a second from Joao Carlos in the final ten minutes decided the clash.

Firstly, Dumaka crashed home after a mazy run from Carlos and then Carlos himself struck after a quickly taken free-kick.

There has been some doubt as to whether the match would go ahead after a late downpour at Mill Field but go ahead it did and it was the visitors who started the better on a greasy surface.

The first chance of the match fell to Town and it should have seen the opening goal.

A long kick up field by goalkeeper Billy Lumley deceived Grays’ centre-back pairing and Afolabi Obafemi was onto it in a flash. However, as he closed in on Conor Gough he blazed high over the crossbar.

Off the hook, Grays started to move the ball around, with former Reading midfielder Glenn Little calling the shots in midfield.

Jody Brown thought his side had opened the scoring when a terrific whipped free-kick from Jey Siva found the head of Immanuel Parry. The centre-back forced Lumley into a save and over the line, but the referee blew for a foul as the home side wheeled away in celebration.

Frustrated at the decision, Grays were almost the masters of their own downfall when a weak Kenny Beaney backpass found the returning Ricky Sappleton.

The burly striker got to the loose ball moments before Gough but his effort dropped just wide of the far post.

Late challenges earned skippers Kenny Beaney and Rich Halle bookings before a thunderbolt shot from Grays’ top scorer Freddie Ladapo cannoned off the crossbar, with Lumley getting the faintest of touches.

And Grays weren’t finished. A quick counter-attack led by Joao Carlos and Ladapo saw the former cross for an unmarked Jamie Guy but he shinned the ball with the goal at his mercy.

The second half started slowly, with Steve Sheehan wasting the best chance of the early stages, directing his header off target when well placed.

Jay Leader prodded wide of his own post when Roman Michael-Percil looked to break through, with substitute Liam Nash testing Gough as the half-wore on.

Obafemi missed another golden chance when he shot over from six-yards and the visitors were made to pay.

Carlos’ jinking run saw Steve Sheehan tied in knots and Dumaka had time to control and smash into the top corner.

And moments later it was 2-0. Siva’s quick freekick deceived the Town defence and, via a deflection, Carlos’ low shot found the corner.

Grays: Gough, Best-Riley, Siva, Bentley, Parry, Leader, Little (Wilson), Beaney, Carlos (Marfo), Guy (Dumaka), Ladapo Billericay: Lumley, Sheehan, O'Hanlon, Scott, Halle, Poole, Michael-Percil (Nash), Ferguson (Akosa), Edwards, Sappleton, Obafemi

 

Conference South

Wealdstone 1-0 Concord Rangers

 

Ryman Premier

AFC Hornchurch 1-1 East Thurrock United

Bognor Regis Town 2-1 Canvey Island

 

Ryman North

Great Wakering Rovers 2-2 Needham Market