It is a case of play it again for these two Ryman Premier sides as they battle for a place in the quarter-finals of the Bryco Cup.

Two hours at New Lodge could not separate the teams following an incident-packed extra time period which finished with both outfits down to 10 men.

By coincidence the two players who were given early baths as trouble erupted at the start of the second period of the extra half-hour were the goalscorers.

Victor Rennie, who had grabbed the Stortford equaliser after 69 minutes, was shown a straight red for aiming a punch at Gary Henty, while Town's Jamie Wallace went for a second yellow for ungentlemanly conduct in the incident.

He had been booked, along with the visiting side's Colin Wall, midway through the first half of the extra period.

With Gary Ansell, Andy Douglas and Paul Fewings all cup-tied, Wallace agreed to play even though his young son is still recovering from a serious operation.

The decision looked like having a happy ending for Wallace, and Billericay, when he scored a 16th minute opener just 60 seconds after Richard Graham's free-kick had hit the bar.

But Stortford responded by forcing home goalkeeper Jerome John into good saves through Troy Braham and Trevor Paul either side of half-time.

Town were angry that Rennie's goal followed a free-kick that was originally given their way by an assistant -- the referee overturning the decision.

Published Wednesday, January 22, 2003

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