FIERCE rivals Billericay Town and Canvey Island have been drawn together in the Ryman League Cup.

Just three weeks after their last encounter, the football gods have thrown them together again for a Tuesday evening cup tie at New Lodge on October 12.

Town edged last month’s league game thanks to a late Danny Charge goal which settled an uninspiring Bank Holiday derby.

It ended Canvey’s unbeaten start to the season, and Billericay boss Craig Edwards called it a “deserved” win.

His counterpart John Batch, however, claimed one of his players was fouled in the build up to the goal and a draw would have been a fair result.

Monday’s draw for the Championship Manager-sponsored league cup could have seen either side drawn against any one of 62 other opponents.

But the first two balls out of the hat produced a fixture in which local bragging rights will be every bit as important as progression in a competition that neither side has ever won, although both have been runners-up.

The clubs are already jostling for south Essex top-dog status in the Ryman Premier league and, prior to last night’s fixtures, eighth-placed Town were two points and two places ahead of the Gulls. Batch said he does not let the rivalry distract from what he is trying to do with the Gulls, but added that the cup draw was fantastic for local fans.

“At least we haven’t got to travel too far,” he said. “We’ll approach this game like they were any other team and as it gets closer we will prepare for it.

“And I am sure they’ll do the same. We had a decent run in this competition last year and we will be giving it a good go this year, and if we can get past the likes of Billericay then we can get past anyone.”

Edwards said: “With all due respect, it is not a competition that is high on our priority list. But, that said, it is against Canvey and it will mean something to the fans, so I will be putting out a competitive side and I will be expecting them to win.”

Elsewhere in the draw, CONCORD RANGERS host Chatham Town, EAST THURROCK UNITED host AFC Hornchurch, GREAT WAKERING ROVERS travel to Maldon & Tiptree, and TILBURY go to Romford. All those ties will take place on October 12.

The following day AVELEY visit Waltham Forest, who knocked out GRAYS ATHLETIC in the first round.

A total of £10,000 prize money will be divied up between entrants this year, with their slice depending on how far they get. The winners will get £1,790.

The final will take place next year on Wednesday, March 30, with the venue to be confirmed