Billericay Town discovered that Ryman Premier wins are like buses -- you wait for ages for one to come along and then two arrive together!

The cash-strapped New Lodge side ended a ten-match run without victory the previous weekend at home to Maidenhead and were again well worth the spoils in Saturday's Essex derby at a Ford United side who could yet get sucked into the relegation dogfight.

Town boss Gary Calder has had problems selecting sides since he lost the services of six first-team regulars due to a club policy decision to cut the financial budget on the playing side.

The current line-up is made up of four established men, plus a makeshift collection of youngsters and players "doing a job" and they certainly filled this latter criteria at Ford's Barkingside home in good style when Gary Ansell, having fired just wide in the opening minutes, grabbed the first goal after 19 minutes.

Ford had Town in trouble with John Buffong's long throws and missed out on a great opportunity to level when Mervin Abraham was off target.

Jerome John, in the visiting goal, saved from Buffong, but Billericay might have gone 2-0 ahead after 56 minutes when James Alexandra cracked an effort against the woodwork.

Calder's men, however, were not to be denied and on-loan Hornchurch man Chris Stowe, two-goal hero the previous week, made this game safe after 65 minutes when he fired home an acrobatic effort with his back to goal after Richard Graham's free-kick had been flicked on.

With Ollie Adedeji in strong form at the back, Ford could find no way through and Billericay might have won more easily but for home goalkeeper Phil Wilson saving in fine style from Graham.

Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo