Rushden & Diamonds 1-0 Billericay FA Trophy 1st Round

[Rick the Dick]

A very good effort from the Billericay Players, Management & Fans at Rushden today.

 

First half I'd guess the plan was not to go in behind at half-time, and consequently there wasn't an awful lot to get excited about.

 

Second half was a different proposition and we looked far more on a par with the oppo, though lacked the killer blow from the chances we did create. I thought we might struggle with fitness against full time opposition, but that didn't seem apparant at all.

 

A good day out, and certainly no disgrace in the scoreline or performance.

 

Well done to all concerned.

[Eastside Urchin]

unlucky lads,losing 1-0 is definatly no disgrace for a ryman prem side,how many did you take up there and what was the official attendance????

[Brightside Bloke]

Timeline

 

1500 - Billericay kick off

3mins - Craig Farrell shot from 20yds blocked

10mins - Danny Green free kick (Billericay) from 20 yds headed back over bar by Paul Terry for corner

15mins - Kurt Robinson cross from left to Tomlin - headed over bar

16mins - Curtis Osano strong run from back - fired inches over bar from 20yards

21mins - Lee Tomlin shot from 25yds over bar

25mins - Mark Byrne run from halfway line - shot over bar.Most of play in Billericay half.

27mins - Billy Bricknell (Billericay) robbed Curtis Osano just outside penalty area - shot across goal wide of post

32mins - Yellow Card Russell Pond (Billeriicay) for foul on Lee Tomlin

33mins - Craig Farrell fires free kick from 25yds over bar.

34mins - Dave Wareham (Billericay) breaks through on goal - Dale Roberts saved - receives treatment after follow through from Billericay forward

35mins - Lee Tomlin up to Aaron O'Connor, deflected shot saved off line by Ian Cousins.

38mins - Three successive corners for Diamonds - Jamie Stuart header saved, ball scrambled away twice.

+2mins added time

45+2mins - Yellow Card Paul Terry foul on Billy Bricknell

Half Time

 

1602 - Diamonds kick off 2nd half

46mins - Aaron O'Connor shot from edge of area - pushed wide by keeper.

49mins - Aaron O'Connor shot 20yds saved - pushed away by keeper for a corner - Diamonds attacking from restart

57mins Ashley Dumas (Billericay) forward to Dave Wareham - cross from left deflected by Stuart - save from Roberts

58mins - Yellow Card Lee Tomlin for diving

59mins - Substitution Diamonds Matt Pattison for Mark Byrne

63mins - Lee Tomlin shot deflected for corner by Michael Shinn - Matt Pattison fired over after corner cleared to edge of area.

67mins - Matt Pattison forward to Farrell - shot saved

68mins - Farrell clear again, but keeper saved with feet

70mins - Substitution Diamonds Cliff Akurang for Craig Farrell

72mins - Substitution Billericay Matt Hall for Dave Wareham

73mins - Yellow Card Michael Shinn (Billericay) for foul just outside area - Free kick awarded

74mins - GOAL - Aaron O'Connor scored direct from Free kick

80mins - Lee Tomlin tried to chip keeper - saved

84mins - Yellow Card Greg Oates (Billlericay) - for foul on Tomlin

85mins - Yellow Card Danny Slatter (Billericay) - not ten yards

86mins - Substitution Billericay Harrison Chatting for Greg Oates

90mins - Danny Green (Billericay) shot wide

+5mins added time

90+4mins - Substitution Diamonds Jefferson Louis for Aaron O'Connor

Full Time

 

Teams:

Rushden & Diamonds: Dale Roberts, Curtis Osano, Kurt Robinson, Max Porter, Jamie Stuart©, Aaron O'Connor (Jefferson Louis 90+4), Craig Farrell, (Cliff Akurang 70), Lee Tomlin, Michael Corcoran, Mark Byrne (Matt Pattison 59), Paul Terry.

Subs not used: Joe Day, Jack Ainsley.

 

Billericay Town: Andy Walker, Greg Oates (Harrison Chatting 86), Ashley Dumas, Michael Shinn, Lee Kersey, Ian Cousins©, Danny Green, Russell Pond, Dave Wareham (Matt Hall 72), Billy Bricknell, Danny Slatter.

Subs not used: Luca Frankis, Ryan O'Rawe, Lewis Lockyer.

 

Goals: Aaron O'Connor 74 (1-0).

 

Referee: Mr A.Fielding (Oxford)

 

Attendance: 696 (157 away)

[youknowyouwantit]

whats going on here..

[GazzaBTFC]

Hmmm, whilst not a disgrace and a good team performance, again we showed a lack of belief. I think in the second half, if we started as we finished, we would've got something out of the game. I don't subscribe to the typically English senitment that crops up amougnst some supporters, the "we gave a good account of ourselves...". It's almost like we're apologising for wanting to have our club and team to be sucessful? If the team performance that applied in the closing 15 was applied during the whole of the second half, we may have got something.

 

Don't get me wrong, we played well and stuck to a game plan but when we pushed Rushden, they were nothing special...in fact, I thought they were more scared of us in the last 15 and letting us in.

 

What gave me heart was, when we did decide to loosen the defensive shackles, we passed the ball and played with so much more purpose. NOW if we can go into each game with that attitude, we'll fly up the table. We have to be brave.

 

Overall we did well but I thought we could've done so much better with a little more balls.

[Rick the Dick]

Hmmm, whilst not a disgrace and a good team performance, again we showed a lack of belief. I think in the second half, if we started as we finished, we would've got something out of the game. I don't subscribe to the typically English senitment that crops up amougnst some supporters, the "we gave a good account of ourselves...". It's almost like we're apologising for wanting to have our club and team to be sucessful? If the team performance that applied in the closing 15 was applied during the whole of the second half, we may have got something.

 

Don't get me wrong, we played well and stuck to a game plan but when we pushed Rushden, they were nothing special...in fact, I thought they were more scared of us in the last 15 and letting us in.

 

What gave me heart was, when we did decide to loosen the defensive shackles, we passed the ball and played with so much more purpose. NOW if we can go into each game with that attitude, we'll fly up the table. We have to be brave.

 

Overall we did well but I thought we could've done so much better with a little more balls.

 

I guess that, when you're facing up against an "unknown quantity" from a couple of leagues highr, it's natural and possibly correct to start off fairly conservatively while you get a feel for them; suss out the strengths & weaknesses etc..

 

I don't think there was any thing wrong with the game plan. The problem was always going to be pulling one back if we did concede; we really missed some options up front, in my opinion. It was a pretty good free kick that finaly gave them their break-through; we defended well on the whole and I thought we benefited from Cousins & Dumas being back in their natural positions. Ash played some lovely passes out of defence and Cosuins was his usual solid self.

 

I agree that for the last 15 you'd have though the teams were of equal standing. We rattled them a number of times, particularly when we were attacking down our left. That's a good positive for our guys to take away from this encounter and hopefully translate it into league success.

[GazzaBTFC]

Re reading my post, I possibly come across a little harsh and I understand that Rushden were a couple of leagues above us and therefore respect should be shown...but not too much. We have seen it before this season, go one down and then dominate...Why can't we dominate from the word go. We now have a team of players who can play together and do look as if they enjoy playing together. We have a couple of flair players and some solid looking defenders that will stand firm...and a great keeper in Walker...So, why can't we go out with a bit of arrogance and boss teams? We have the team to do that. Sure Rushden are Conference but they were nowt special yesterday and to repeat my point, if we played the second half as we played the last 15, the result possibly would be different.

 

Anyway, we should've been one nil up in the first (should we have been awarded and scored the penalty). Wareham was fouled in the box but didn't stay to ground...the poxt ref, saw (as he did quite a few things) the incident Rushdens way...

[Brightside Bloke]

Just a couple of points re Saturday game.

 

1, Wareham was fouled in the box but didn't stay to ground...the poxt ref, saw (as he did quite a few things) the incident Rushdens way... Good on Wareham It's all about fair play?

2, 58mins - Yellow Card Lee Tomlin for diving. It's all about fair play?

 

Over the last few games we have seen our players booked for some stunning performances by the opposition, (& i don't mean football skills) how many rolls did that guy do yesterday?

As much as i don't like to see this playacting it's that that has cost us in recent games. Dare i suggest that if you can't beat them then join them. Sometimes i think our lads are just way to polite on the pitch. (only sometimes mind)

 

Yesterday i left the ground quite a proud Billericay Town fan. Okay we lost and regardless of what others think i also think we gave a good account of ourselves...

 

Both Walker and Cousins played a great game and should share MOTM. But hat's off to Pooch you can't blame her for trying.

[jl]

Good morning everyone - Just about recovered from the festive ruby

 

 

I think people will look at the result and think that's not bad but I thought we were very negative.

 

I appreciate that Rushden are a couple of leagues above us and I have no problem with playing the 4-5-1 - With what we had I don't think we could do much else. We played with a bank of 4, a bank of 5 and Bill was completely isolated - again for the first 20 minutes or so fine to settle in - but we never engaged the opposition until they were virtually in our third. Playing this way I couldn't really see how we were going to get more than nil.

 

We again defended well, I thought Cousins was excellent, probably his best game for us so far but we seemed more concerned with having 10 behind the ball at all times rather than creating anything positive. I was surprised we never swapped Wareham and Green over - Wareham had a bit of joy against his full back but yet again his delivery was "inconsistent" whereas Green was anonymous. Had we swapped them we could have got Green on his better side against the weaker full back and Wareham could have given some more help to Oates who was having a "difficult" afternoon.

 

Once the inevitable goal went in, we showed that we were capable of putting them under a bit of pressure but over the course of the 90 you have to say the result was a fair one.

 

I'm not having a go at the players, I think they did what they were told but I wonder how many of them are thinking we might have been able to get something had we gone for it a bit more.

 

22.5 pc of the gate for us doesn't reflect too well on them - it was a shame - last time we played them the gate was three times higher.

 

No game on Tuesday now - I know they don't grow on trees but we desperately need to get another striker in - let's hope we have one by next week.

 

Slightly deflated (some would say a lot more deflation required!) but hoping for a return to winning ways in the league on Saturday. Come on you Blues!

[kt:@btfc]

First of all could we say a massive thank you to Ryan for organising the coaches. We thought it was a great showing of noisy support with the 157 (sounded more like 557!) that travelled. Shame there will be no pictures of the game due to some jobs worth R&D security dick hunting poor Amanda down.

 

So proud of our boys who didn't dive and roll around on the floor unlike R&D and didn't constantly foul like their number 24 and 7 (who was a disgrace in the box during corners). Overall we think the score should have been 1-0 to us if we were granted the penalty. How on earth can you give it their way. Wareham was running away and the goalie brought him down. I would like to teach the ref that when someone tackles and wins the ball it goes their way and not the other. The linesman needed some guidance on the off side rule (us ladies could have taught him that!!!!). For us MOM is a difficult one - either Walker for his many excellent saves or Cousins for his fantastic defending movements and many great wins of the ball. But well played to all.

 

In summary we think we looked solid in defense and midfield but lacked forward play. Thank you all for a fab day out and once again thanks Ryan.

[Brightside Bloke]

[Blue Dawg]

I think that we clearly had a game plan that worked very well until they scored, then our lack of strength up front was always going to be a problem, and Billy was rarely given anything to attack. If it was not for this I saw very little to distinguish the two teams in terms of fitness and ball skills. However, they did create all the chances and if it was not for Andy would have won by more.

It was a great day out, but it has shown very clearly that with some more strength up front we could be a very strong team. The frustration is that we all know that if we were to ever get promoted we would stay in the higher league and yesterday proved that easily as we were not out classed.

[Top Cat]

A great day out for all.....the team did not disgrace themselves, could have done better BUT........, this will help our confidence further.

 

Onward and upward

[GazzaBTFC]

Overall So proud of our boys who didn't dive and roll around on the floor unlike R&D and didn't constantly foul like their number 24 and 7 (who was a disgrace in the box during corners). Overall we think the score should have been 1-0 to us if we were granted the penalty. How on earth can you give it their way. Wareham was running away and the goalie brought him down. I would like to teach the ref that when someone tackles and wins the ball it goes their way and not the other. The linesman needed some guidance on the off side rule (us ladies could have taught him that!!!!). For us MOM is a difficult one - either Walker for his many excellent saves or Cousins for his fantastic defending movements and many great wins of the ball. But well played to all.

 

There was quite an illuminating article in their programme about "play acting" (cheating, I believe they called it)...perhaps it should've been read by their no 7 and no 24. In fact I noticed that whilst they were able to get away with a number of fouls with just a word from the ref, the ref decided on a couple of occasions to go straight to a yellow without a word when one of our players commited a foul. If the same was applied, I imagine that one or two of their players would've been lucky to stay on the picth. Oh well, thems the breaks, I suppose...As someone shouted before then whistle to close the first half "grow some balls ref"...he didn't...if he had done, he would have been a miracle of natural science...

[Adam.S]

Obviously we went in as the underdogs, but I never thought we would get a thrashing and we didn't. I think we played a a defensive formation and try to stop them from scoring, which we done quite well, Cousins was excellent, I thought Kersey done well, and Walker mad some good saves! With Billy on his own up front it was always going to be hard to come back into the game, and I think he done all he could do by chasing balls down and making tackles. I'm not sure the challenge needed to be made in which they scored from, but it was a very good free-kick. Also for a Conference ref, he was shocking!! And the bald lino!!

 

Anyway it was a good day out, to a good ground, and eventhough we lost, I think the game will still give the team some confidence!

[Blue Dawg]

The NLP gave the MOM to Andy walker. I could see that, but I also thought Cousins had a great game.

[Brightside Bloke]

I wouldn't be to surprised if the likes of Justin E started to put in a few bid's for the motm & Cousins

[Ryan.c]

For effort and commitment we were spot on. Agree with some of the above, bit disappointed we didn't have a bigger go at them but with Bricknell up top on his own, it was always going to be a tall order. We can take heart from the performance tho, they are after all a side pushing for a play-off place in the Conference, we are side 2nd bottom in the Ryman Premier. Fantastic set-up they've got, we could do with days like this more often!

 

Some team selections of a positive kind for a change next Saturday at Wealdstone with Macca, Wild, Osbourne, Hall, Dumas and Street all in contention for a place in the side. I still feel we have a squad capable of pushing for a play-off place, but we need consistency and another forward urgently if we are to acheive that. We also need supporters to start backing the side in numbers once again.

[Keith.P]

Imo the real difference between the two sides was that Rushden looked a tad more comfortable on the ball, where-as in the first half we seemed more content to try and clear lines without perhaps using a little more composure. However, cannot fault the whole team on the never say die attitude. First half was definately Rushdens but if we had applied the same mentality as we did in the second half then i believe we "may" have got something out of it. I too thought Cousins had a blinder and Walks kept us in it with some great blocking saves. Rushden do have some quality on the park and it is no surprise that Tomlinson (i think) is going to move further up the ladder.

 

Bit of a surreal atmosphere in a way, with nearly all the Rushden fans congregated behind their goal and both sides of the stands dismally empty...who was it who said seated grounds only look good when full...hmm, certainly applies there. However looking at attendances up and down the trophy ladder and i guess the Rushden figure was about right, just a shame really as it is without doubt the best ground/facilities in non league, and probably a good number of league clubs.

 

It does highlight one thing though..we need some strike up front when injuries/suspensions occur as Billy is not a target man imo by playing balls in the air to him.

 

But, it was a good performance by the team but just feel we could have got something from it ! Now then...by saying that does that show we are starting to believe this team can go further (i think it does)...which is a compliment to them.

 

Now the funny bit......So, we all leave the ground to be ushered into the car park (incidentally as empty as the two sides of the ground)....the coaches were not allowed to be left there ! So after doing a Margate special...we split into groups to go scouting for potential b&b's - Then...the floodlights go out ! Doh !! So, it was a all hands on effort to find where the coaches were allowed to park...! It was funny really as they were up some embankment on the main road...You'd have thought the stewards could have told us where they were ! But more so, youd have thought the big huge empty car park could have been made available to them.

 

Anyways good luck to Rushden in next round.

[GazzaBTFC]

But, it was a good performance by the team but just feel we could have got something from it ! Now then...by saying that does that show we are starting to believe this team can go further (i think it does)...which is a compliment to them.

 

There is always a positive spin on criticism and I agree...We do think the team has more to give. And Ryan even mentioned "play offs"...OMG!!!