Highlights: Sheppey United v Billericay Town

Billericay Town hosted Pitching In Isthmian South East side Sheppey United, the Ites looking to slay another giant. They visitors had a fine start to that quest, Dan Bradshaw putting them ahead after just nine minutes, but the Blues levelled just before the break through Frankie Merrifield. Try as they might neither side could add to the score, and they had to meet again in Kent in midweek.

Sheppey United of Pitching In Isthmian South East welcomed Billericay Town in an Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay on Tuesday night, and the Ites terminated the Cup ambitions of a second ‘giant’ in a row, the visiting Blues defeated after one hundred and twenty minutes and a dramatic shootout at Holm Park.

The Ites had much of the play at New Lodge on Saturday, but the visiting Blues were unbeaten on the road and must have been confident as they arrived on the Island. That confidence was shaken as Dan Bradshaw’s seventh goal of the season put the hosts ahead on twenty minutes, and for the next sixty five minutes it looked as if Sheppey had booked themselves a tie against Walsall and a first ever First Round match, but with five minutes remaining the visitors got an equaliser, Brad Stevenson continuing to be their talisman and scoring his ninth of the campaign.

Into extra time we went, with no further goals- although we did have a red card, Ben Wells departing late on for Billericay. Penalties was next, and the Ites held their nerve, despatching each of their five spot kicks. Billericay were almost as lethal, but almost wasn’t enough, one failure from five seeing the hosts through.

Image: Marc Richards

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