Billericay Town 1–1 Tonbridge Angels

From New Lodge

Ryman Premier League

 

BILLERICAY Town earned a hard-fought point against promotion hopefuls Tonbridge Angels, although it could so easily have been three.

An early goal from the exciting Quentin Monville was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time in fortuitous circumstances following a number of ricochets in the penalty area.

Town welcomed a few familiar faces back to the club, with Luke Blewden and Nathan Elder lining up for second-placed Angels.

But you could have been forgiven for thinking Town were the side challenging at the top of the standings after a flying start.

Mike Fondop, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, saw shanked an early effort wide after neat work down the right from Ibrahim Diallo, although the early breakthrough wasn’t long in coming.

Connor Hubble, reborn in recent weeks, picked out a delightful cross and Monville volleyed home from on the goal line.

Fondop’s close range header fizzed over the bar as Angels struggled to get a foothold in the game.

As a matter of fact, both sides were finding it difficult to stay on their feet on a New Lodge pitch that was increasingly cut up as the game went on.

Nick Wheeler saw a close range effort well saved by home stopper Jack Giddens’ legs and, moments later, a flowing move down the right dropped to Elder but his header lacked the power to beat Giddens.

But Angels did get the goal on the stroke of half-time, and it was one of the scruffier strikes you are likely to see this season. A free-kick was sent into the box and, after a goalmouth scramble, Tom Parkinson shot beyond Giddens.

The second-half saw both sides struggle to assert themselves on an increasingly heavy pitch, with Fondop’s near post effort the best effort of the first 30 minutes.

The introduction of Onome Sodje livened up the hosts, with Teddy Nesbitt so close to getting onto the end of a reverse ball from Ola Williams, but the game remaining in the balance into the final 10 minutes.

The best chance of the closing stages fell to the home team but Fondop was unable to take advantage of some excellent wing play from Monville, heading wide of the near post on the run.

 

Billericay Town: Giddens, Diallo, Williams, Hubble, Ellul, Beavan, Monville, Curley, Derry (Sodje), Fondop, Nesbitt

Tonbridge Angels: Di Bernardo, Folkes, Parter, Parkinson, Sobers, Ball, Fitzpatrick, Elder (Whitnell), Riviere, Blewdon, Wheeler