MATCH REPORT | BILLERICAY TOWN 3 DARTFORD 1
The visitors started quite brightly under the floodlights. And, barely had the 745 supporters gotten comfortable at New Lodge when a free-kick was awarded for a late Ricay challenge. However, Jeremiah Pinder’s free-kick from distance failed to trouble goalkeeper Sam Donkin (2).
Freddie Hockey and Alfie Cerulli then combined well at the other end, which saw the latter’s long-range effort saved by Jonny Henly (4), before the Darts took the lead via Dan Carter’s wonderful long-range drive in the ninth minute.
The hosts responded immediately via Jack Evans, but his effort was struck straight at Henly (10), before another Pinder free-kick clipped the top of Donkin’s crossbar five minutes later.
The lively Liam Nash fired narrowly over the Dartford crossbar (30) before Freddie Hockey failed to take advantage of a long pass by Nash, which released the former into a one-on-one situation with Jonny Henly… only for the Dartford goalkeeper time his rush to perfection to thwart the Ricay player (33).
However, Hockey picked up an injury shortly afterwards and was replaced by Teddy Collis (40). The hosts would go on to swap Tommy Davis with Ollie Parsons (62), and Alfie Cerulli with Keon Lewis-Burgess as the game progressed (72).
As we return to the action, we reach the point where Ady Pennock’s game-plan began to unravel after Samuel Okoye received his second yellow card and a red to leave his teammates a man down from the 38th minute onwards.
The red card sparked the hosts into life, as they lay seige on the Dartford goal and got themselves level deep into stoppage time when Matt Johnson fired into the bottom corner (45+4).
The hosts began the second forty-five on the front-foot, as they looked to turn the game around completely. Only a superb diving header from skipper Michael Olarewaju prevented Cerulli from finding the top corner with his powerful strike (52).
Ady Pennock responded by swapping Olly Box with Sam Smith (53), before going on to swap Dan Smith with Eddie Dsane (62), and Jeremiah Pinder with Samir Carruthers late on (86).
As we return to the action once again, the hosts edged ahead with a little bit of fortune as Elliot Long pounced to score despite Jonny Henly’s best efforts in trying to prevent the goal (56).
Eight minutes later saw the numbers levelled once again, after Jazzi Barnum-Bobb was given a second yellow card and his marching orders after a late challenge (64).
George Whitefield came agonisingly close to equalising four minutes later, before Henly pulled off a superb save to keep out Liam Nash’s free-kick (72)!
But, as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game, Elliot Long was allowed to run for too long with the ball and, after making space for himself, secured the victory for the hosts with a well-placed left-footed strike deep into stoppage time (90+3).
The result was Dartford’s first league defeat on the road since August, and one that leaves them remain in the play-off places by goal difference only. But, Michael Olarewaju and Co will certainly be looking to returning to winning ways on Saturday, as Chichester City come to town.
BILLERICAY TOWN: Sam Donkin, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, Jay Porter, Matt Johnson (c), Tommy Davis, Liam Nash, Jack Evans, Alfie Cerulli, Elliot Long, Freddie Hockey, Tyrell Miller-Rodney.
SUBSTITUTES: Teddy Collis, Ollie Parsons, Tyrese Owen, Ben Steward, Keon Lewis-Burgess.
DARTFORD: Jonny Henly, George Whitefield, Michael Olarewaju (c), Joe Tennent, Samuel Okoye, Dan Carter, Jacob Bland, Jeremiah Pinder, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Dan Smith.
SUBSTITUTES: Samir Carruthers, Sam Smith, Denzelle Olopade, Eddie Dsane, Richie Atkins.
Chris Palmer