It was a case of renewing old acquaintances for Billericay Town last night when they bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Ryman League Cup.

For their hosts Chesham United are managed by John Kendall, who was boss at New Lodge for over a decade before ending his association last summer.

Also, the Chesham line-up was likely to have a couple of former New Lodge players in the shape of Marc Sinfield and Martin St Hilaire.

Kendall has done a superb job at Chesham since taking over the managerial reins early in the season and they now stand third.

Billericay are 11th and were only in last night's match due to the fact that St Albans, who beat them at New Lodge in the previous round just before Christmas, fielded an ineligible player and were chucked out.

Chesham had a number of recent signings cup-tied forthes game, while Billericay, who were able to use recent signing Joe Baker, had central defender Chris Moore out suspended.

A couple of weeks ago you would have had to back Chesham for success, but there was a new spirit at Blunts Wall Road following the tremendous FA Trophy win over Conference side Hereford ten days ago.

Gary Calder's Billericay followed that up with an Essex Senior Cup success over Aveley - they now host Romford in the quarter-finals of that competition on February 8.

However, most eagerly-awaited date at New Lodge is on Saturday week, February 5, when arguably the best non-league side in the country, Rushden and Diamonds, come to New Lodge in a fight for a place in the last 16 of the Umbro sponsored Trophy.

Huge interest is building up for that match, probably the biggest Billericay have ever staged, and a crowd of between 2,000 and 2,500 people is hoped for.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.