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Search forTown pay penalty at promotion favourites Staines
Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 10:45
The west London side are one of the pre-season favourites for title honours this year and they showed their colours in an opening half hour of almost total domination.
Billericay, however, can be pleased with their fightback thereafter, having just the better of the second half.
A number of the summer signings were handed their competitive debuts with Ashley Dumas and Steven Ferguson both making their first appearances in a Billericay shirt, whilst Tim Cole and Dave Wareham both started after spells away from the club.
Staines started by forcing a succession of corners while the Blues had to be content with limited possession but after a Wareham free-kick was half-cleared to Leon Hunter his header was planted powerfully towards goal where Louis Wells pulled off a good save.
Staines continued to dominate possession with Elliott Onochie shooting over when well placed, and it was no surprise when they took the lead.
The goal came when Staines were awarded a penalty for handball after Billericay had struggled to clear a corner. Dave Sargent fired the resultant spot kick home, giving goalkeeper Ronnie Worster no chance.
Sargent could have added a second on the half hour mark as a quick counter attack ended with him firing just wide when free to the left of Billericay's area. After that miss, however, Billericay began to claw their way into the game and Wareham's cross found Joe Flack whose header was saved at point blank range by Wells.
Another set piece move saw Wells tip Cole's header over the bar but the referee gave a goal kick.
The second half continued much as the first had ended with Billericay able to enjoy plenty of possession and territorial advantage, without being able to turn it into clear cut chances.
Rikki Burbridge, Wayne Semanshia and Billy Bricknell were all introduced to the action, but Billericay were unable to produce the final ball to unlock Staines' defence.
Town should not be disheartened by this opening day defeat as visiting one of the title favourites was always going to prove difficult.
Billericay were scheduled to entertain Tooting & Mitcham United last night (Tuesday), and this weekend sees Town face the traditional Bank Holiday double-header with a home tie against Carshalton Athletic on Saturday and that is followed by a trip to newly-promoted Canvey Island on Monday.
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DOUBLING-UP: Billericay Town's Dave Wareham (white) made his second league debut for the Blues against Staines.
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