Dulwich Hamlet 0-3 Billericay Town

(Cunnington 9’, Ellul 19’, Robinson 30’)

From Champion Hill Stadium

Ryman Premier League

THREE goals in the opening half hour saw Billericay Town get the better of fellow Ryman Premier League play-off hopefuls Dulwich Hamlet.

Town went into the game with caretaker manager Glenn Tamplin feeling the club must win their final seven games of the season to stand a chance of making the top five.

Goals from Adam Cunnington, Joe Ellul and club record signing Jake Robinson were enough to move Billericay to within two points of the play-off places.

Tamplin changed Town’s formation after the captures of former Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara and Robinson, who joined from Hemel Hempstead Town for £24,000, on Thursday.

Both made their full debuts and made an impact in a first half to remember.

Cunnington opened the scoring as he capitalised on hesitant defending to head home an O’Hara cross.

Ellul then got his name on the scoresheet with less than 20 minutes played to leave the home side in shock.

Matt Johnson hurled a long throw into the six yard box and Ellul flicked a header past goalkeeper Preston Edwards.

Robinson, who arrived at Billericay having already scored 23 league goals for Hemel Hempstead Town in the National League South, found the back of the net just 30 minutes into his first appearance for Town as he headed past a helpless Edwards.

Striker Dumebi Dumaka had an effort saved by goalkeeper Alan Julian just before the hour mark as the home side looked to find a way back into the game.

Billericay were forced to play the final half an hour with 10 men as half-time substitute Mekhi McLeod was shown a straight red card after clashing with Ashley Carew.

With seven minutes remaining, Dulwich thought they had pulled one back when Carew picked out Omar Koroma at the far post, but his header was ruled out for offside.

Despite some pressure from the hosts, the visitors managed to come away with a clean sheet and will be confident of claiming a second win over Dulwich in the reverse fixture tomorrow.

Billericay Town: Julian, Eyong, Lawrence, Konchesky, Swaine, Ellul, O’Hara (Krasniqi 56’), Johnson, Bricknell (McLeod 45’), Cunnington, Robinson (Taaffe 65’)