Ricay too much for Crusaders

The powerful and experienced Billericay side sent our injury-hit squad tumbling unceremoniously out of the F.A. Cup in front of a crowd of over 1,000 at the AGP Stadium (I cant help calling it the New Lodge, although today’s facilities are nothing like the ground I remember from past years). We had another blow to our playing strength when Callum Willmoth was ruled out following his injury in Saturday’s drawn game, but James Rusby was fit enough for a place on the bench and came on late in the second half.

The traffic was horrendous as we approached Junction 28 on the M25 and it took almost an hour to cover the last 10 miles, but the team, and most of our small band of loyal supporters had already reached this impressive arena and were ready for action,
Although we matched them territorially, the Billericay attack was the more incisive, getting on top for the last half-hour and giving our defence a torrid time, although the experienced Jermaine Pennant was soon forced off, but the strength of their squad was demonstrated when Billy Bricknell came and scored a hat-trick.

Billericay scored twice before the interval through Louie Theophanous and Billy Bricknell, although Marcus Beauchamp had already made some good saves, but we were back in with a chance when Stefan Brown made it 2-1 soon after the interval.
However, the Blues raised their game and put the game well out of our reach when Bricknell scored on the hour and then made it 4-1 only three minutes later to complete his hattrick .

We battled on, but there was no way back and a first goal for Freestyler Jeremy Lynch made it 5-1 and Harvey Read scored an own goal from a Konchesky cross after a clever free kick, our poor recent F.A.Cup record continuing, with a tough league game versus East Thurrock to come on Saturday.

Despite the recent results, the spirit of the players and management team is good, but we urgently need the return to fitness of our injured players, Matt Partridge and Luke Hopper in particular, have been badly missed.
Team; Marcus Beauchamp, Rhys Tyler, Diak John, Ian Herring, Harvey Read, Scott Rees, James Clark, Jordan Simpson(James Rusby), Stefan Brown, Nicholas Bignall(Jamal Lawrence) Louie Soares.
Sub;Paul Stonehouse, Garrett Kelly, Jon Boardman

Report; Ron Tarry