Billericay 2-2 Carshalton

[Simon BTFC]

Better performance from us, particularly in attack where we had BWG and Wareham back. Billy Bricknell again looked good and bagged another goal. Not so good at the back and until we get Heffer and/or Cole back we always look like giving the oppo a chance. Marron came on early at RB and did well.

 

Buckfield, Semanshia (Marron), Dumas, Cleary, McSweeney, Shave, Woods-Garness (Flack), Hunter, Bricknell (Burbridge), Ferguson, Wareham

SNU: Chatting, Worster

[Rick the Dick]

An enjoyable game to watch & Carshalton play some good football. We took a while to settle down in the first half; still a bit nervy maybe after Monday? But then got back in the game and I'd say pretty even at half-time.

 

Second half was a terrific battle, with both sides looking good going forward but liable to leak a bit at the back. We stayed foccussed after Carshaltons early 2nd half goal, which was good to see. The equaliser got them rattled and the goal to put us in the lead was well deserved. Shame we couldn't hold onto it.

 

A far better performance than Monday, against a side that look much improved on last season. They beat Hx at the Bridge 0-2 ten days ago, so that puts yesterday into perspective.

 

They also lost 1-5 to Horsham, who were yesterday beaten at home by Harlow so make what you want of that!

 

I see Asford won again, beating our friends from south of Benfleet, and maintain their 100% record with 15 points from 5 games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jl]

I thought a draw was probably a fair result over the 90.

 

Carshalton passed the ball around very nicely in the early stages and looked a good side, but we got more into it as the half progressed.

 

I'd just thought, a clean sheet at half time, excellent, something to build on and then we go and have a snooze at the start of the second half. The other goal we conceded was also as a result of poor defending and Jolly doesn't miss too often at this level. Heffer was close today, so hopefully he'll be back on Tuesday.

 

I thought Marron did well at right back also. I also thought BWG and Dave W did well especially giving some protection to our full-backs this time. Our "creative" influence in the middle of the park was completely anonymous again but Bricknell again worked really hard up top, proof that hard work does bring its rewards.

 

If we can get at least one of Heffer or Cole back on Tuesday I fancy us for a win (that's murrayed it!!!)

 

Come on you blues!!!!!!!

[GazzaBTFC]

I think Neil Marron deserved MOTM

[richards]

Agreed Carlshalton looked an excellent passing team and with Richard Jolly are always likely to score goals.

Taking the positives, our strikers look dangerous and hopefully after injuries are resolved we can settle down at the back - incidentally I think Macca has been playing very well, often having to cover right back as well as the centre.

For me the problem is midfield - basically we haven't got one which means the ball is being pumped long all the time (perhaps this is our high tempo direct game?)and tends to come straight back which means our defence is overstretched. I think with such attacking wingers as Bradley and Dave we really need another body in the centre of midfield which might mean going with only 1 upfront.

The contrast in playing styles was really marked yesterday, personally I would prefer to see us passing it around a bit like Carlshalton did (and like we have done in the past)

 

Interesting to see in the non-league paper today that Justin Edinburgh had 3 current/ex Billericay players in his side including Elder and Hockton - but tellingly he felt that Jamie Dormer was the best midfielder outside of Conference - we need you back Jamie!!

[Adam.S]

Carshalton have always been a tough team. Yesterday we proved that we play so much better passing the ball then we are with long balls. Our defence did look stronger yesterday but I still think that we need heffer and cole back soon. We missed a few chances in the 1st half which proved how important it is to take make the best of the chances that you get on goal. The score was a fair result, with both teams playing some good football and both teams having chances on goal.

[Bluetone]

I don't know how you can say a draw was a fair result? If I were a Carshalton fan I'd have been unhappy after the final whistle, as I thought they played us off the park for long periods. Gotta give our boys credit for fighting back to snatch something from the game but I don't think this should paper over the cracks that is our midfield. Our ball retention is awful at the moment and we seem to have turned into a poor mans Bolton. If we are going to play long ball can we please pick Burbs upfront as the constant aerial bombadment to Flack and Billy is frankly ridiculous.

 

Anyway small rant over, we did prove in breif spells that we can still pass the ball around and cause a good team problems, so onwards to Hendon! Come on you Blues!

[Barry_T]

I think a draw was fair.

Carshalton are the best team we have played this year and some of their passing was most enjoyable to watch, albeit not what we wanted to see.

I think we raised our game accordingly and put in the best performance ourselves so far.

Agreed that the midfield is still weak.

However, neither Shave nor Hunter have, imo, had a bad game yet.

I criticised Shave in the close season which upset some, so its only fair that I comment now that I think he is playing better.

However, the problem is that they both still give the ball away too much.

There is often quite a gap between midfield and attack which is a downside of having such attacking wingers.

 

After the disappointment of the no-show on Monday, this was far better and we can hopefully take it on from there.

Because of the requests for no criticism, I have not made any comment on the first 4 games because I could see no way of commenting without criticing as it really has been that bad in the main.

 

My mom on Saturday was Marron (surely I'm not agreeing with Gazza!!) but for the season so far I have been most impressed with Ferguson.

 

Final point - what's the A-Team all about? Bring back Rocky!

 

 

[GazzaBTFC]

The A Team?

 

Well, I made the comment that perhaps we should refresh the pre match warm up during the pre season...I made a change at the end of the last season with Where Eagles Dare and reading the teams over the top of it (Mr. Tony "Tash" Longhurst has to take some credit for that as he requested the song)...From when I played the play list back, I thought the "drama" of the tune to good to miss - especially if you get the timing right and get to the officials names as the song gets really "evil" at the end - a bit of my type of werid humour...anyway, I digress...

 

...I mentioned it to Dorms and he took the idea to some players and they "ummmed and ahhhed" and then Dorms suggested the A Team...So I went with it. I was going to put in "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" (I still have it on every play list, just in case I have to run over...the F A 's "Respect" handshake sent me in a bit of a "tailspin" of worry as I had no idea at what time the players would come out...and timing on the iPod's play list is crucial). I thought that we had three seasons of Rocky and won bugger all (well...one trophy) and thought, hey, new season, new hope, new run out tune. I got caught up in the "new hope" and excitement of the possibilities that this season promised.

 

I have put back Slade's "Give Us A Goal", because none of the other tunes seemed to flow as well...It may require some more tinkering and "Rocky" may have it's chance again...I feel a "vote" coming on.

 

 

[The Town Crier]

 

 

I wouldn't say that Carshalton played us off the park, Carshalton kept and passed the ball well but that doesn't win games, and at 2-1 down I don't think you could argue their equalizer was anything but a gift.

Jack had very little to do all game.

 

The Carshalton guys were pleased with a point.

 

Those who stand within earshot of the dugout or take time to speak with Grant and/or Jason after games know long ball isn't an instruction or game plan.

 

I Liked Rocky

 

 

[jl]

I think we need to have a look at what we've got in midfield (and what we're missing).

 

Whether it's Fergie, BWG or Dave W in the wide positions there's no doubt we're pretty rapid in those areas and as such a ball over the top to them seems like a pretty reasonable tactic to me. IMO our two best midfield passers are Dormer and Game and they are both injured (so is Solomon Henry, who looks a similar type of player to Gameo).

 

I can't believe even Shavesie would have expected to start every game so far, but circumstances have dictated that he has and I think he's done ok. He's a good presence in both boxes and to my mind his committment to the cause can't be questioned. I disagree with Barry about Hunter.

 

Left-field suggestion: Ferguson to partner Shave in midfield on Tuesday.

[JoeV93]

Yh i preffered it when it went from Star Wars into Rocky!

[Brightside Bloke]

I've always thought Shave's wore his heart on his sleeve when he run's out for us, & I'm glad he was not one of the ones to go pre season.

It was good to see Dumas actually make a few tackles on Saturday.

And how close was Billy a few times.

I agree with the post's Re Marron as MOM.

 

A Team... Spot on Gazza