Billericay Town 2–5 Wealdstone

(Swaine 27’, Modeste 66’: Bubb 20’, 28’, 49’, Wellard 38’, Whichelow 45’)

From the AGP Arena

FA Trophy quarter-final

BRADLEY Bubb scored a debut hat-trick to help Wealdstone crush Billericay Town 5-2 in the quarter-final of the FA Trophy.

The striker netted three times to help the National League South side through at the expense of Town, who capitulated having equalised only to trail 4-1 at half-time.

Wealdstone were looking to replicate their run to the semi-finals six years ago, while Town had already made history in reaching the last eight.

Town had the ball in the net after just four minutes. Robbie Evans’ cross was adjudged to have gone out of play, with Sam Deering’s effort which found the net subsequently disallowed.

Bubb saw an effort pushed out by Alan Julian up the other end but the striker was celebrating before long.

On 20 minutes, a ball over the top reached Bubb and he streaked through to shoot under Julian for a debut goal.

It was an enthralling game. Deering’s shot was deflected behind up the other end and the midfielder was involved in the equaliser.

After his shot had been parried by Jonathan North, Deering hung a cross to the far post which Rob Swaine headed home.

But Town’s lead lasted all of 60 seconds. A cross was brought down by Bubb in the penalty area and he poked past Julian.

And a dire first half took a further turn for the worse seven minutes before the break. Ricky Wellard picked up the ball in the penalty area and drove powerfully past Julian.

And a rotten half continued when a Matt Whichelow’s corner was punched into his own net by Julian on the stroke of the whistle.

Jake Robinson was kept out spectacularly by North on the stroke of half-time as a wretched first 45 minutes came to an end.

But the second half was to begin in a similarly disappointing fashion. Bubb took aim and fired an unstoppable drive inside the far post to make it 5-1.

That looked to be that, but Billericay were not quite finished.

After Robinson and Deering had shot over, Ricky Modeste did get a goal back following a fine cross from Dean Inman with 23 minutes remaining.

But Town were unable to get back into the contest, with a Billy Bricknell free-kick the best they could manage, in the closing stages.

Billericay Town: Julian, Kizzi, Evans (Butcher 46’), Swaine, Inman, Deering, Waldren (O’Hara 46’), Paine (Bricknell 46’), Modeste, Robinson, Cunnington