Billericay Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 13th January, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers continue a run of away league games on Saturday, 13th January with a visit to Billericay Town. Kick off 3 pm.
The Wands will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night’s late defeat at Bognor Regis Town which saw Cray move one place down the Isthmian Premier league table to 16th on 25 points.
Cray had led at Nyewood Lane from the 18th minute courtesy of a fine Gary Lockyer strike, his ninth goal of the season and led until the 87th minute when Bognor levelled and then took the lead three minutes later to win the game 2-1.
One of positives from the last few games has been the defensive solidity especially in the four festive home games and certainly put in another good shift on Tuesday night with David Ijaha and Cameron Black outstanding while up front Tayo Oyebola has two goals in four games and has looked sharp.
In recent weeks Cray were just starting to edge away from the bottom four but still need a few more points to perhaps edge towards mid-table. With trips to Folkestone Invicta and Whitehawk to follow, Neil Smith’s side will be looking to pick up some points away from home where Cray have been competitive and have lost the last two by the odd goal.
Billericay Town have had a very consistent season in league and cups and come into the game in 4th place in the table and have won their last three league matches. The Wands though can take heart from the record against teams in the top 5 after wins against Chatham Town, Enfield Town and Wingate & Finchley in the first half of the season.
Gary McCann’s side last Saturday were 3-1 winners at Kingstonian with goals from George Wind, Moses Emmanuel and Matt Johnson and have 41 points from 21 matches played and have recently added Tommy Davis and Ruben Soares-Junior to the team.
When the teams met at Hayes Lane on 19th August, Billericay edged the game 1-0 with a first half goal from Emmanuel and defeated the Wands the last time the sides met at Billericay on the opening day of the 2022-23 season winning 2-1.
At home this season Billericay have beaten Kingstonian (1-0), Dulwich Hamlet (3-0), Hastings United (2-0), Bognor Regis Town (2-1), Chatham Town (2-0), Carshalton Athletic (2-0) and Potters Bar Town (2-1). The Blues have drawn with Enfield Town (1-1) and were beaten by Whitehawk (1-3), Canvey Island (0-1) and Haringey Borough (1-2). Away from home, Billericay won at Cheshunt (1-0), Cray Wanderers (1-0), Potters Bar Town (3-1), Margate (3-1), Whitehawk (1-0) and Kingstonian (3-1). They drew with Horsham and were beaten at Folkestone United, Hashtag United and Wingate & Finchley. Billericay had two very positive cup runs reaching the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup beating Stowmarket Town, Brightlingsea Regent and St Albans City before losing at Sheppey United after a replay. In the FA Trophy, they reached the 3rd Round beating Felixstowe & Walton United, Bury Town and Tamworth before losing to National League Wealdstone. Leading scorer is ex-Wand Bradley Stevenson with 16 goals
Although a tough test against one of the promotion favourites this should be a good, competitive game and one Cray will be doing their best to get something from and look to edge up the league table.
DIRECTIONS TO BILLERICAY TOWN FC
New Lodge
Blunts Wall Road
Billericay
ESSEX CM12 9SA
Admission Prices: Adult: £12, Concessions at £7.00, Under 12s-U17’s £3, U11’s £1
Admission by card only – at gate or online – Please note the stadium is cashless so admission/food and drink to be paid by card.
https://billericaytownfc.ktckts.com/event/bil2324h13/billericay-town-vs-cray-wanderers
Printed Programme: Yes
DIRECTIONS
Driving: There is no parking available for supporters at the ground so it is a case of finding some street parking,
Leave the M25 to Junction 28 and take the A12(E) towards Chelmsford. Leave the A12 at Junction 12 and head for a short distance towards Mountnessing (B1002). At the next roundabout take the second exit onto Widvale Road (signposted Billericay). Continue along Wivdale Road as it bears right and then becomes Wash Road. At the next mini roundabout take the first exit onto Rayleigh Road. This is the A129 Billericay Road. On reaching a Ford Garage on the left hand side of a crossroads turn right onto Tye Common Road and then take the second next right onto Blunts Wall Road for the ground.
Train:
Services to Billericay go from London Liverpool Street or London Stratford and take around half an hour to get there. Trains from Liverpool Street are at 15, 33 or 55 minutes past the hour and around seven minutes later from Stratford. Returns back to London are at 17, 37 and 57 past the hour.
The railway station it is located one mile away from the ground or around a 20 minute walk. As you exit the station entrance, proceed straight up the station approach road in front of you. At the top of the station approach road, turn right onto Radford Way. At the bottom of Radford Way turn right at the mini roundabout onto Stock Road. Proceed across the bridge above the railway. After passing the Railway Pub on the right, take the next right hand turn into Western Way. Continue straight along Western Road for around three-quarters of a mile, until you will reach Blunts Wall Road, where you turn right for the ground entrance.
Where to Drink
On past visits to Billericay Town, the club house is exceptionally good and has some upstairs seating.
There is plenty of choice in Billericay High Street if you get there early enough. For Wetherspoon’s fans there is the Blue Boar and close by are the Railway pub which is an excellent choice and the Coach & Horses on Chapel Street, both listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for the real ale lovers amongst you. A little further away on Mountnessing Road is the Inn on the Green and you also have the Kings Head, The Duke’s Head, The Forge and the Fox and Hounds all there if you want to make a day of it.
Churchill’s Fish & Chip shop (60 High Street) is probably the nearest to the ground and amongst the very impressive High Street.
Billericay is a commuter town in Essex in the borough of Basildon. During the Peasants revolt of 1381 there was a battle between King Richard II’s army at Norsey Wood in Billericay and the local rebels which the King ultimately won. The club badge features the legendary Mayflower ship which set off with the Pilgrim Fathers to settle in the East Coast of what is now the United States and Billericay was used as a meeting place by the Pilgrim Fathers before setting sail and the Ship’s governor, Christopher Martin was from Billericay. The badge is one of three that features the Mayflower along with Plymouth Argyle and Boston United. In 2016 during the 1st World War, a German Airship was shot down over Billericay and just missed the High Street.
Billericay is the birth place of singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, comedian/actor Lee Evans and TV presenter/author Richard Osman. Also one of the great punk/new wave lyricists of all time Ian Dury introduced the world to “Billericay Dickie” on the 1977 album, New Boots & Panties and his amorous ways especially with Joyce and Vicky.
