Billericay Town manager John Kendall and his team received fulsome and well deserved applause from around 150 fans who stood their ground in the London Road stand at the end of Saturday's match.

This was, however, more to mark the end of a season where the Club had put apprehension behind them and more than held their own in the top division rather than this defeat which was a fairly accurate reflection of the day's play.

The Club had deservedly led the Premier Division for a few weeks early in the winter, but the second half of the season had been a disappointment.

Indeed, by Easter the only thing left for Town to achieve was to record their highest ever finishing position.

In the event even this was beyond them as the 10th place in 1982/83 remains unbeaten, Town ending their first season back in the top flight in 12th.

Kendall has been unlucky with injuries since mid season with, among others Gary Waters, John Ridout and highly rated Lennie Dennis unavailable for the season's second half.

On their day, however, the players who made up Saturday's team can perform well and were expected to do so against second placed Aylesbury whose championship and promotion chances had disappeared over the last few matches.

A cross from the right followed by a first time volley by Town's Steve Portway could have broken the net in the first 30 seconds had it been on target and United would probably have struggled to get back easily.

On 26 minutes the visitors went ahead. Paul Wilson saw a gap and shot from just outside the area and to the left.

Dave Root hardly moved as the ball flew past and although David Kreyling, who was starting a Town match for the first time, launched himself at the ball, he failed to connect as it reached the net.

Town came back strongly and Portway carved out a chance in the 45th minute, shrugging off two defenders, but visiting goalkeeper Simon Brown did well to save and deny Billericay's present principal goalscorer.

Town had their best spell of the game just after the restart. Even so, Aylesbury might have increased their lead on 50 minutes when Corey Brown turned to shoot wide when faced only with goalkeeper Dave Root.

On 57 minutes another referee might have awarded Town a penalty as the flaying arm of a leaping Aylesbury defender struck the ball, although such an award would have been somewhat harsh.

Two more good Town moves promised reward and Dean Parratt's 62nd minute shot deserved better than to go wide of Brown's goal.

After that Town's challenge faded and Aylesbury took over. Root saved a Lee Cook shot on 63 minutes after the youngster had skipped his way past two defenders. Seven minutes later Ian King swept the ball in to put the visitors 2-0 up.

Among the Town crowd was a contingent from Norway waving a giant flag, but even this stayed erect and proud as a bizarre atmosphere descended around the proceedings.

With a section of the Aylesbury following doing a celebratory and well received conga around the ground, both sets of fans sung their hearts out for no apparent reason, neither having anything tangible to show for a full season's endeavours.

Meanwhile on the pitch, Martin St Hilarie spun and shot on 74 minutes, but this was countered by a third Aylesbury goal a minute later, King proficiently converting a cross from the left with his head.

Town never looked like getting even one back as their first campaign in the top flight for 12 years drew to its end.

After the whistle both the players and the manager responded to the generous applause to bring an overall successful season to a close.

Billericay Town: Root, Goldstone, Davidson, Moore, Sinfield, Parratt, Adams, Kreyling (Jordan), Bochenski, Portway, and St Hilaire.

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