Billericay win eight goal thriller to go five points clear...

By Ian Townsend

...but Hamlet will look to close the gap tonight

Billericay Town finally got to play a home game at home last night, returning to the AGP Arena after spending some time as part time tenants at Aveley, and they also returned to winning ways after two successive 1-1 draws, defeating sixth place Staines Town in an eight goal thriller.

It looked as if three home points were a certainty after fourteen minutes, as first Matt Paine and then Billy Bricknell headed home to put the Blues two goals up. But that didn't take into consideration the talents of the Staines strikeforce. Elliot Buchanan got one back from the edge of the box just after the half hour, and whilst Ricky Modeste soon made it 3-1 the Swans wouldn't be shaken off, Max Worsfold bringing it back to 3-2 four minutes before the break.

It took until eighteen minutes before the end for Billericay to increase their lead, Jake Robinson delighting the majority of the 580 in attendance twelve minutes after entering the field as a substitute. Robinson curled the ball home from all of thirty yards, his 51st goal of am amazing season- but even then Staines weren't about to lie down, and another from Buchanan made it 4-3 with twelve minutes remaining.

But it was to be that man Robinson's night. Two minutes from the end he created a new club record with his fifty second goal of the season, making it 5-3 and securing the points to the delight of manager Harry Wheeler, who later stated that he 'couldn't be prouder' of his team who had 'all showed character against a very good side.'

By the way, Jake Robinson's brother Lee, who plays for Newhaven in the Southern Combination Football League, has 39 league goals this season and is well on the way to winning the SCFL's Golden Boot. The Robinson household may need a new trophy cabinet by May!

Dulwich Hamlet can tonight close the gap to three points once more if they can manage a victory over Tonbridge Angels at Tooting & Mitcham United. That match is part of an extensive programme of fixtures, details of which can be found here.

Billericay are back in action in the Velocity Trophy Final on Wednesday- look out for a preview of that match later.

Image- Jake Robinson by Nicky Hayes.

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