CRAIG Edwards has dubbed Concord Rangers the favourites to lift the Essex Senior Cup after he watched his Billericay Town side book their final spot with a 3-1 win at Aveley.

A brace from Ricky Sappleton, followed by a goal from Steve Sheehan proved too much for their Ryman One North opponents and Edwards now has the Beach Boys in his sights as he looks to win Town’s first trophy since 2012.

Edwards won the Essex Senior Cup in his first season in charge of Town in 2011 and he is now targeting a repeat performance, although acknowledges it will be a tough ask.

Concord Rangers manager Danny Cowley had previously said that Billericay were a bigger team than his side, in terms of size and infrastructure, but Edwards believes the defending champions will be the team to beat.

“If I had the amount of money Danny had at Concord we would be in the Conference South, but that isn’t to take away from what they have achieved,” he said.

“They will be favourites ahead of the match because they are going so well at the moment but it is a one-off game and either of us could win it.”

Two goals within 10 minutes of half-time put Billericay 3-0 up before Aveley got a late consolation, with both sides hitting the frame of the goal.

And Edwards admits he was desperate to avoid another comeback – after Whyteleafe came back to 4-3 from 4-0 down in a recent Ryman League Cup tie.

“All that was missing on the night was our finishing,” he continued. “I was thinking when they brought it back to 3-1 ‘don’t put me through it all again!’ “Ricky has tried to break the net when he could have had a hat-trick and to be honest I would have expected better as his all-around game is so good.

“This is a competition we always want to do well in and it is great to be back in the final after a few years. We won it at Thurrock last time so it will be a great day out for the players, staff and fans when the game comes around.”