After a cagey affair at Keys Park on Saturday, Gavin Hurren took his Pitman squad to Billericay Town to attempt to reach the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round at the second time of asking.
Whilst a small but loud travelling contingent of Hednesford fans made their presence felt at New Lodge, a capacity attendance of 185 also enjoyed the game via a livestream beamed back to Keys Park.
With one change to Saturday’s line-up, Taylor replacing Wynter, the Pitmen largely kept faith with Saturday’s team for the replay. Having finished Saturday’s game strongly, Hednesford started in the same vein putting the Billericay defence under pressure, with Donkin saving from Morgan at his near post.
However, with The Pitmen having failed to make the breakthrough, it was Billericay who went ahead in the 38th minute courtesy of a slightly fortunate goal from their leading scorer Frankie Merrifield. With the Hednesford midfield having
allowed Jack Evans to shoot from distance, the ball was tipped onto the cross bar by a diving Tony Breeden, only to cannon into the air and drop down to the edge of the six-yard box, where Merrifield had the simplest of tasks to slot the ball past the prone Breeden and into an empty net.
In an attempt to regain the initiative Hednesford made two changes at the break with Joss Labadie replacing Joel Taylor and slotting into centre half, with Chris Hussey reverting to left back and Kieron Freeman coming into midfield in place of Simeon Maye.
Although the visitors continued to press a stoic Billericay backline, despite the introduction of Dan Trickett-Smith and Jake Jervis for Johnny Edwards and Jamie Morgan respectively, the breakthrough would not come as Rose was again denied by Donkin. It was in fact, Billericay who almost extended their lead following an almighty goalmouth scramble in the six-yard
box.
Hednesford continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, predominantly through the lively Ahkeem Rose, and an 85th minute goalmouth scramble inexplicably failed to breach a staunch defence.
However, the search for an equaliser left Hednesford light at the back and when impressive Billericay skipper Matt Johnson won the ball back in defence, he released substitute Elliot Long to play in Merrifield whose second goal of the evening ended the game as a contest in the 87th minute. With seven minutes of injury time played Billericay came close to a third goal, forcing a fine save from Tony Breeden.
So, with the FA Cup dream over for another year, Hednesford’s attention must now turn to a difficult FA Trophy tie away at Harborough Town this coming Saturday (4th October), before a return to league action versus Stockton at Keys Park on Tuesday 7th October.
Billericay Town: Donkin, Porter, Johnson, Davis, Scott, Nash (Long 76), Merrifield (Cerulli 89), Orji, Evans (Panton 78), Miller-Rodney, Jolliffe (Blackman 63)
Subs not used: Abraham, Oudnie-Morgan, Okewoye
Hednesford Town: Breeden, Morgan (Jervis 64), Taylor (Labadie 46), Maye (Freeman 46), Harrison, Hussey, Rose, Doyle-Charles, Edwards (Trickett-Smith 64), McHale, Turner
Subs not used: Brown
Attendance: 636
