BILLERICAY Town's FA Trophy exploits seem to be badly affecting their bid for Ryman Premier promotion.

The previous weekend's excellent 2-2 home Trophy draw with Nationwide Conference Exeter City, who had held Manchester United in the FA Cup, was preceded by a rare league defeat.

And, with tomorrow's third round replay at the West Country side's St James's Park ground looming large, they were thrashed 5-0 at Essex promotion rivals Braintree on Saturday.

Little went right for Justin Edinburgh's men on the day in front of a 671-strong crowd - although there was a bright debut for on-loan Colchester United midfield teenager Craig Johnston in the second-half.

He came on for Leon Hunter, who was forced off after receiving a painful facial injury.

But by this time Billericay, who have now dropped to fifth place, were already a beaten side.

Braintree took a 12th-minute lead through Andy Porter and Alex Revell, who interested Southend United earlier in the season, made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after being brought down by goalkeeper Paul Gothard.

After 38 minutes the host side made it 3-0 when ex-Billericay man Mark Graham set up Louis Riddle to score.

Dave McSweeney went close for the visitors when he shot inches wide after the break, but Braintree went 4-0 up with Porter scoring his second, this time a header, from Graham's assist.

Substitute James Baker got the fifth following Revell's great burst down the right and the only good news for Billericay was that two of the four teams above them, leaders Yeading and Eastleigh, both suffered home defeats.

Edinburgh's men have games in hand on all their rivals, but next Saturday's home league clash with East-leigh is undoubtedly, in the long term, more important to the club than tomorrow's Exeter clash.

Full non-league round-up in Monday's Echo