Billericay Town 2-1 Bognor Regis Town

(Stephenson 66’, Gaurilovas 80’; Crane 38’)

From New Lodge

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

By Dan Thurogood

BILLERICAY Town survived a nervy ending to get the better of Bognor Regis Town and secure a fantastic result in the FA Cup second qualifying round.

Goals from birthday boy Alex Stephenson and Edvardas Gaurilovas completed a second-half comeback to delight manager Craig Edwards, who had watched his side lose to the same opposition in the league just last month.

“I said to the boys at half-time, keep our discipline and once we got the equaliser I was confident we’d go on and win it,” he said.

“I felt their penalty was very soft and it was disappointing because I thought we started the better of the two sides.

“Although we’ve won I feel we’ve still learnt lessons in how to see a game out. I feel at 2-1 we didn’t need to throw as many bodies forward when attacking but they’re a young side and wanted to go for three or 4-1.

“It was hard to keep calm on the side line at the end but I’m so pleased we’ve got the win as that’s four wins on the bounce now.”

The Blues started the better in the opening 20 minutes and the first chance of note fell to Pierre Hazet. The ball was headed away from a corner and he took a touch before firing just over the cross bar from 25 yards.

Bognor came back into the match and a succession of corners led to a chance for defender Gary Charman, who met a corner well but directed his header off target.

Ollie Pearce was then played in down the left and his cut back found Jimmy Wild on the edge of the box, only for a last-ditch block from Stephenson to deny a certain goal.

Billericay had the best chance of the first-half. Junior Luke was played in down the left and his cross shot smashed off the post and Goldy Capela couldn’t convert when it looked easier to score.

But Bognor did take the lead from 12 yards. Fraser was bundled down in the box after a trip from Gaurilovas just before half-time and James Crane smashed the penalty into the roof of the net.

Billericay cranked up the pressure after the break and Stephenson grabbed an equaliser.

A corner was initially cleared, but Billericay recycled the ball well before two low passes in the box found the defender on the edge of the six yard box.

And he side-footed home impressively to get the leveller.

The comeback was completed when Kreshnic Kresniqi’s long throw appeared to miss everyone on the way through but a slight nick off Gaurilovas helped the ball bounce over goalkeeper Billy Granger.

And despite Bognor protests, referee Daniel Bonneywell gave the goal with just 10 minutes remaining.

And Billericay closed out the match to earn an excellent victory and their place in the hat for the next round.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Adelowo, Cross, Gaurilovas, Sappleton, Stephenson, Monville, Hazet, Capela (Cundle), Kresniqi, Luke