Not too much of a battle as Blues defeat Hastings

By darnold

BILLERICAY TOWN 2

HASTINGS UNITED 0

(Ryman League Premier Division)

BILLERICAY'S topsy-turvey season continued on Saturday as goals from Billy Bricknell and Simon Thomas were enough to beat second placed Hastings United.

The strike duo produced two quality finishes to decide what was an entertaining game for the New Lodge faithful.

After the disappointing performance against Horsham, Billericay manager Brian Statham rang the changes, bringing back Dave McSweeney, Matt Hall, Danny Green and Danny Slatter to give his side a much more balanced look.

Heavy rain in the days leading up to the game made for some tricky conditions with the ball holding up on the surface on numerous occasions, but with defenders on both sides showing good levels of concentration, the game was an absorbing contest.

Billy Bricknell has been in good form in recent weeks and he duly gave Town the lead in the eleventh minute when Sean Ray allowed a high ball to drop in the area, giving him the chance to run through on goal and, with all the confidence that his recent scoring run has brought him, draw the keeper before slotting the ball home.

The Billericay striker was causing the Hastings rearguard plenty of problems, and he was on the receiving end of two bad fouls from right-back Steve Elliott for which the defender can consider himself fortunate to have only received the one booking.

Hastings were quick to attack when they had the ball, and their muscular style of play brought them some success with on-loan midfielder Harry Pell particularly prominent.

The game was wrapped up on the hour mark when a neat touch from Russell Malton freed Simon Thomas whose first time lob beat Steve Williams.

Hastings pushed for a way back into the game with Pell twice testing Andy Walker from long range, but the Town 'keeper was not be beaten and Billericay played out the final minutes to take a deserved win.