Justin Edinburgh's Billericay are the new early pacesetters of the Ryman Premier Division following this gritty success over Wealdstone last night.

A 3-2 victory for unbeaten Town, who have now won three of their first four matches, saw them take over the leadership on goal difference from Yeading, who they visit on Saturday.

With Gavin Heeroo still nursing a knee injury, Edinburgh introduced back-from-suspension Kieran Gallacher and Neil Cousins into the line-up for their first starts of the campaign, with ex-Southend United youngster Danny Kerrigan replacing Gary Henty at left-back.

On a surface made difficult by heavy pre-match rain, top scorer Danny Hockton was prominent in early Billericay attacks, only to be foiled by home stopper Andy Carter.

At the other end, defender Robin Trott cleared a Richard Jolly effort off the line, but Jolly was on hand to make it 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Billericay equalised eight minutes before half-time, with midfield skipper Jamie Dormer heading home his first goal of the season.

Play became scrappier after the break, but Marvin Morgan was always a danger to the Billericay defence. But it was Dave Ryan who headed home with 15 minutes to go to leave Wealdstone fans believing that they were heading for victory.

But Billericay, who made three substitutions in the second-half, dug deep and levelled, almost inevitably through that man Hockton, with four minutes to go.

Most of those among the significant army of Billericay fans who made the trip would have settled for a point at this stage.

But they were sent into ecstasies with two minutes remaining when another former Roots Hall player, Leon Hunter, grabbed the winner with a delightful scissors kick.

Published Wednesday August 25, 2004

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