CRAIG Edwards refused to be too hard on his injury-ravaged Billericay side as they went down 3-0 at home to Conference South heavyweights Dover Athletic.

The Town boss felt it was a harsh scoreline which might have been different if his players had made more of a good first-half performance.

Edwards said: “The only thing between us and them in that first half was goals.

“We were not so good in the second half, and we were a bit disjointed after the substitutions.

“But I have seven players out, and five of them would probably start the season.

“So over the last week we have lost to Braintree, a strong Norwich side, and a Dover side I think will win their league this year.

“My players are disappointed but I’ve told them not to be too down-hearted about it.”

Billericay were marginally the better side for the opening 24 minutes on Saturday until the visitors took the lead.

Town left-back James Hawes had the ball taken off his toe by Donovan Simmons and he laid it off to Harry Baker who crossed for Simmons to head home.

And Dover hit a killer second on the stoke of half-time as former Billericay man Billy Bricknell was allowed to run and run before back-heeling it for Nathan I’Anson to fire home.

And it was over as a contest two minutes after the restart as Junior Luke tripped I’Anson in the box and Bricknell converted the spot kick.

It might have been different had Tony Boot made it 1-1 instead of dragging a gilt-edged chance wide on 41 minutes.

But Town had little penetration after the restart as Dover held on comfortably.

The game was played two days after Billericay hosted Premier League newboys Norwich in a friendly at New Lodge.

Town gave a good account of themselves against a strong Canaries side which included Simeon Jackson.

And it was the former Gillingham striker who opened the scoring on 38 minutes as he side-footed home from close-range.

But soon after Jay May home to send the teams in level at the break.

Craig Edwards sent out a different Billericay side for the second-half, but they continued to create chances with Paul Semakula and Tony Martin both going close.

But Paul Lambert’s men went ahead with a goal from Newman Carney with 10 minutes to go, and then added another with a Aaron Wilbraham penalty late on to seal a 3-1 win.

Billericay (against Dover): Morgan, Oates (P Martin 66), Hawes, Luke, Patten, Swaine (Toms 76), Kpaca, Edwards (Radley 66), May (T Martin 76), Boot (Thomas 69), Chatting.