Billericay 1-1 Stortford

[Simon BTFC]

Good game for the neutral - plenty of attacking play from both sides, Stortford probably best team we've played so far - will probably be this years "Braintree" and end up top 6 or 7. Essandoh and a Brennan free kick were billericay's best efforts of the first half, had a let off just before ht as a Stortford player hit a shot that cannoned off the post and back onto his head and behind for a goal kick. Second half Billericay awarded a pen for a handball in the box, Brennan hit the bar. Martin Carthy gave us the lead 59mins on with a turn and shot. Stortford attacked for most of the rest of the game, JJ made 3 or 4 excellent saves before he was finally beaten 10 minutes from the end.

[Nitetime Neil]

Just want to say how enjoyable to watch this match was. Still only the 4th game I've seen this year but have seen Roy Essandoh in 3 of them and have to say he is the most impressive forward to wear a BTFC shirt for around ten years, since Jonesey probably. Scores goals, if not 2nite, creates chances out of nothing, never seems to flap or sulk when things dont go his way and generally seems to have a good attitude to the game all round. The way he outwitted the Stortford keeper and two defenders to flash a shot past the post out of nowhere in the first half was so encouraging as was the way he fought back to win the ball and create another shooting opportunity after a header didnt come off - others in the past would have stood and sulked. Top marks,Roy! With Jerome's breathtaking second half spell, hard work by the team all round against tuff oppos and at last this season a lively vocal crowd at home, 2nite has certainly whetted my appetite for more!

[Guest]

Not a bad game. I think we just shaded it in the first half and the first part of the second half up to when we scored but after that, Bishops Stortford were definately the team. A draw was a fair result.

 

To be honest I think the sustitute idea of using Willo up front didn't work but I was told it worked pretty well at Hayes so I can't blame Gary Calder for trying it again. To be fair, the whole team seemed to loose its way in the last fifteen, except of course JJ. A superb display of reaction goalkeeping from him certainly wins man of the match in my eyes. We could've lost the game if not for him.

 

Just a thought. Last season we struggled against teams that wore yellow on the day (Canvey and Braintree) and it looks tha same this season (Braintree - again and Bishops Stortford). Do you thin we could ask Canvey to wear their change strip this season? <img src="/forums/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[jl]

i thought it was a very good game agst an impressive b.s. side who were definitely the best opposition we have faced thus far. i thought we shaded the first half with richard graham and an impressive jamie wallace prob our best players altho they cud have nicked a lead when they hit the post just b4 the break. half time was notable for a major decline in the standard of the steak burger (back to the totty bar for me) and an alleged sighting of steve jones in the clubhouse-now thats a good rumour.

second half thgt we reacted well to the penalty miss and carthy scored a fine goal. shortly after that willo was brought on for jamie in what seemed like a sensible substitution but strangely from that point on we were under the cosh. i thought b.s. front 2 were excellent and for the first time this season our defence was under real pressure and at times we resorted to just humping the ball upfield to clear our lines. by this stage they were bombarding our goal and jj made some unbelievable saves-he really is a quality keeper- i was surprised we didnt bring on rantala at this point mebbe in place of one of the g.g. s as we were under siege and it seemed only a matter of time before b.s. scored..and eventually they got a deserved equaliser.

we could have nicked it at the end when brennans shot went just over but i felt b.s. were well worthy of at least a point.

i was a bit surprised at our tactics at corners as well. at several of their corners we had everyone back. i can understand wallace n essandoh coming back with their height but surely its worth leaving richard g upfield just in case. also when we get corners the 2 centre halves go upfield leaving kerrigan to mark the attacker and mcd as spare man. now dave mcd is a reasonable defender but pace aint his strong suit and to my mind that set-up is akin to leaving 1 v 1 at the back and needs to be changed.

good to see some away fans as well and they certainly played their part in creating a good atmosphere for a good match.

the question is, is this a reality check or have we just played a good side..i tend to think the latter, but as many of us thought the league looks like its gonna be close this season.

again pleased to say couldnt fault the lads for effort n lets hope we can take 3 points on sat...cmon the blues!!!!!

[Guest]

Just for those of you that were up the Billericay End when Stortford scored I can assure you that he was clearly offside giving the outstanding JJ no chance. It came as no surprise that "The Officials" didn't spot it as they didn't spot much all night.

 

I wonder if they got permission from their mothers to be out so late!!?? I hope they get sent to bed without their tea for that performance.

[Guest]

Ref was the smallest and youngest I have ever seen at this level and was visibly intimidated by the Stortford number 9 (I won't hold that against him), bottled a couple of decisions but managed to spot a clear hand ball, resulting in Brennans penalty miss. JJ was out of this world and, for me saved at least 3 certain goals after he had been let down by a tired and shapeless defence. To be honest we scraped a draw from a good winning position - The decision to take off Wallce for Williams was either gonna work or not...it left us shapeless, clueless and under constant pressure from a slick, well organised outfit, who unlike us last night play to their strengths.

 

I felt that the 2nd half was the worst defensive performance so far. After a solid 1st half, Penn and Mooro proceeded to have a mare, always out of position, being beaten in the air by some pretty game strikers and leaving huge gaps to plug often Danny coming across. I don't think that Russ is the center half we need to play alongside Mooro...against better opposition he will get abseloutley slaughtered, however potentially he could be a better right back than Dave Mac.

 

It's not all bad, I did spot Mr Eriksson in the stands writing down the name of Jerome John as a replacement for David James.

 

Sort it out on Saturday. Come on you Blues!!

[Guest]

I agree, a fantastic game by JJ, the calls by Bish fans of dodgy keeper were completely out of order.

Thought we defended a bit too deep towards the end, dangerous against 2 very good strikers. Is Vinny John related to JJ?

[Guest]

I think the chants of 'dodgy keeper' where ever so slightly tongue in cheek. Your keeper was absolutely superb and with out doubt kept you in the game. MOM IMO.

[Guest]

Of course the keeper comments were tongue deep in cheek, I really thought he played superbly. Good to see us battle to the end for a deserved draw. Essendoh will always be a threat up front, but we contained him well enough even though he missed a couple that he perhaps should not have. As for the offside comment above for our goal, that is utter bolox. I was exactly level with the play at that point and it was a sound goal. The referee was chirlish and sickly, both teams suffered from his own particular brand of strange officialdom and all onlookers suffered because the game could have been even better. Oh and the Newcastle Brown was most palatable even if the Ansells was not. Cheers.

[Paul S]

I think it is a case of a point gained rather than two points lost. bishops stortford look an extremely useful side and i feel they had the chances to win the game, but for three of the best saves your ever likely to see at this level. i feel brennan's penalty miss may have been the turning point in the game - but i wont dwell on it as it is history now.

 

in my view we have gained a point against a definite top 8 side without ever really playing at our best.

 

lets have 3 points on saturday

COME ON U BLUES