These two candidates for top six placings in the Ryman League Premier Division table fought out a six-goal thriller in front of a 651 crowd at New Lodge on Saturday.

It has to be said that there was some dreadful defending on a difficult, bumpy surface, but the attacking play more than made up for this.

Although Billericay have won just once in seven home starts in 1999, it would be unwise to write off their hopes of a place in the leading half-dozen in their first year back in the top flight for 12 seasons.

Said home boss John Kendall: "It was certainly the sort of game to keep the fans rolling in.

"Obviously I wasn't happy with some of our defending, but usually we don't defend as badly as that.

"If we could finish in the top six in our first season back at this level it would be a tremendous achievement."

On a more sour note, Kendall was less than happy with some of the treatment meted out by the opposition on flanker Martin St. Hilaire and star striker David Adekola - often with little action from referee Roland Dodge.

However, this was generally an afternoon to savour some great attacking football. St Albans went ahead after only 21 seconds when Rob Haworth, a thorn in the side of Town's defence throughout, was unmarked at the far post to head home busy Lenny Piper's cross from the left.

On-loan midfielder Kieren Adams showed the kind of skill that perfectly demonstrates why Town are soon to pay Barnet £7,500 for his services with a superbly-struck leveller after 17 minutes.

However, Town were chasing the game again when Piper called the tune with a 42nd- minute effort which caught a wicked deflection to make it 2-1 to the visitors three minutes before the break.

Billericay, to their credit, refused to lay down and die. After 64 minutes it was St Albans' turn to get in a tangle at the back, allowing midfielder Dean Parratt to score from close range.

Yet, just four minutes later, that man Howarth was criminally left on his own again at the far post to make it 3-2 for the visitors, this time, with an unstoppable drive from a corner.

Billericay again left it late to earn a share of the spoils, with the action entering the 91st minute when substitute Simon Bochenski picked Steve Portway out with a tremendous ball.

The recent striker signing picked his spot magnificently with a superb dipping effort for his fourth Billericay goal in three games.

Incredibly, either side could have won from this point. Adekola, who missed out on a couple of clear-cut chances, had an effort deflected wide and, at the other end, Haworth was let in by a wildly optimistic Chris Moore back-pass.

However, the best player on the field spurned his hat-trick opportunity by blazing over. So honours ended even, but Billericay will need to defend better to obtain any reward at second-placed Sutton tomorrow.

Sandwiched - Town star Martin St. Hilaire is caught between three St Albans players

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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