Billericay Town 2, Sutton United 4 (From Echo)

Billericay Town 2, Sutton United 4

10:01pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

CONFERENCE SOUTH
Billericay Town 2, Sutton United 4

BILLERICAY'S survival hopes were dealt a blow with a second-half collapse at home to Sutton United tonight.

Town led 2-1 at the break, but some poor defending let the visitors plunder all three points, and leave Town still firmly in the drop zone.

It was a quiet opening 15 minutes which was finally punctured by a chance for either side as Sutton's Dean Sinclair drew a low save from Sam Beasant, before Jay May volleyed over from close range following an inviting Nathan Ashton cross.

Ashton had a tame effort gathered before Charlie Taylor had a great chance to break the deadlock when he benefited from a tight offside call, but his shot was smothered at close range by keeper Tom Lovelock.

Sutton took a 32nd minute lead when Billericay were slow to close down a corner and Harry Beautyman's curler from just outside the box took a deflection off a defender before beating Beasant at his near post.

Town levelled four minutes before the break with a towering header from Chris Wild, and they almost took the lead when Taylor stabbed an effort against the post.

But they did not have to wait long to go in front as former Concord loanee Lovelock flapped at a ball into the box, leaving Taylor to slot the ball into an unguarded net.

Beasant got down well to deny Craig Dundas an equaliser early in the second half, and he denied the same player soon after with a brilliant reflex stop which his famous father - Dave - would have been proud of.

But Sutton were pressing and turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes.

The first came from the penalty spot when Paul Rodgers tripped Dundas, and he converted the spot-kick, despite a strong hand from Beasant.

The second was a very scrappy affair as Billericay repeatedly failed to clear their lines, allowing substitute Chris Benjamin to finally smuggle the ball over the line.

And the visitors went further in front when Town failed to deal with a routine ball into the box and Beautyman created space with a lovely turn before slotting home from six yards.

Billericay Town: Beasant; Rodgers, Wild, Beccles, Douglas; Lechmere, Poole, Collis, Ashton; Taylor, May.

Echo MOM: Sam Beasant (Billericay Town).

* Elsewhere tonight in the Ryman Premier, Canvey drew 1-1 at Cray with a goal from Bradley Woods-Garness.

East Thurrock were held 2-2 at home by Met Police, with the Rocks' goals coming from David Bryant and James Lawson.

Concord kept their title tilt going by beating Bury Town 3-2 with goals from Leon Gordon, Jason Hallett and Tony Stokes.