One of the most amazing incidents I've witnessed on a soccer pitch in 30 years of reporting the game at non-league level highlighted this eagerly-awaited clash at New Lodge.

The game had entered the 29th minute with Billericay leading 1-0 when an argument between visiting players Ollie Adedeji and Mark Graham after a home attack broke down ended in a display of fisticuffs between the duo.

If Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis can repeat their efforts in their eagerly-awaited heavyweight clash, boxing fans will be delighted.

Billericay Town's two-goal hero Joe Baker attempts to calm down Aldershot duo Ollie Adediji and Mark Graham after they came to blows at New Lodge on Saturday. Picture: LUAN MARSHALL 7PHAH26C

Players of both sides tried to separate the two and referee Tony Gurr, as bemused as the rest of us by the incident, had no alternative but to show the pair red cards.

So, an afternoon that had many worried beforehand about potential trouble on the terraces following the appointment of George Borg as Billericay's chief coach after four years as Aldershot manager, had an entirely different outcome.

With their opponents down to nine men, Billericay -- who gave a defensive debut to on-loan Dagenham man Tim Cole -- were caught between two stools of apparently not being certain as to whether to "go for the throats" of their visitors with an all-out attacking display or defend the lead they already had.

Billericay were guilty of some reckless finishing and might have paid dearly but for skipper Chris Moore clearing off the line when a throw-in evaded goalkeeper Gavin King after 66 minutes.

Despite the fact that he set up both Baker's opener and injury-time clincher, as well as forcing one tremendous save from the goalkeeper, ex-Leyton Orient striker KK Opara still continues to have something of a nightmare in a Billericay shirt.

The final misery for Opara came in the dying seconds. Having been booked earlier for a frustrating lunge at goalkeeper Gareth Howells as another scoring chance went begging, he failed to retreat far enough at a free-kick and, for receiving two cautions, was banished from the field for the third time this season.

Fortunately for Billericay, Baker was at his brightest. He skipped past Jason Chewins after 20 minutes to open the scoring and wrapped up the points to lift his side up to seventh in the table after another opportunist run as the action moved into the 92nd minute.

Published Monday, March 4, 2002