Bognor Regis Town 1-1 Billericay Town
From Nyewood Lane
Ryman Premier Division
BILLERICAY Town battled to a valiant 1-1 draw at Bognor Regis Town, despite losing a lead handed to them by powerful striker Ricky Sappleton.
The sides were only separated by a single place in the division ahead of the game and it looked as though Town would leapfrog Bognor when Sappleton handed them the advantage after the break.
But Jason Prior scored a penalty with 15 minutes to go to hand each side a point.
Town handed a debut to new signing and Billy Lumley’s long-term replacement Joe Wright and he had a nervy start when he dropped the ball from a corner, with a goal-line clearance saving Town.
Rowan Liburd, who had been in fine form recently, was taken off after he sustained a head injury with Liam Nash taking to the field.
The game was delayed for 11 minutes when the referee had to be replaced after picking up an injury. But that was one of the livelier points of a subdued first half.
Doug Tuck saw an effort headed off the line by Teddy Nesbitt but it was the visitors that opened the scoring, when Sappleton headed in off the stanchion.
The burly striker was denied a second before Prior netted the equaliser after he was bundled over in the penalty area.
Nash had the chance to get his first for the club when he was played through but he was denied by a fine block from Harvey Whyte.
Stu Green saw an effort deflected onto the post in the dying moments.
Billericay Town: Wright, Williams, Nesbitt, Edwards, Halle, Scott, Baker (Melaugh), Poole, Sappleton, Liburd (Nash), Dunne
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