BILLERICAY have one hand on the title trophy after claiming a battling 1-0 win over Rocks — despite finishing the game with nine men.

The 25th minute dismissal of top-scorer Jay May meant it was a day for the league leaders to show their mettle — and they did not disappoint.

Harrison Chatting’s goal in first-half injury-time proved the winner as Town kept the free-scoring Rocks at bay — despite a 95th minute red card for keeper Dale Brightly.

With all three subs already on the pitch it fell to midfielder Dave Collis to go in goal.

But with skipper Rob Swaine in imperious form in the heart of the home defence, the visitors never got close enough to test the stand-in goalie.

It made for a gripping climax to a game lacking in quality, but packed with suspense.

And when the dust settled Town found themselves five points clear with two games to go following second-placed Hornchurch’s 2-1 defeat at play-off-chasing Wealdstone.

And with Town’s superior goal-difference it means a point on their trip to Margate on Saturday will be good enough for the title and automatic promotion with a game to spare.

There was no sign of the late drama to come in a tepid opening 20 minutes at New Lodge on Saturday. It only came to life when Brightly made an excellent low stop to keep out a header from Golden Boot-chasing Sam Higgins.

And it was in that passage of play that May picked up his first booking for dissent. It would prove telling when, five minutes later, the striker was shown a second yellow for a late tackle on Rocks’ skipper Ben Wood.

The irony was that sending off finally sparked a nervy-looking Town into life, and for the rest of the game they more than matched their numerically superior visitors.

They took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Swaine flicked on Collis’ long throw and Chatting turned the ball in from close range.

Rocks had a great chance to equalise a minute after the restart but Brightly made a good stop with his legs to keep out Reiss Gilbey’s free shot on goal from 10 yards.

The game then became littered with yellow cards as Collis went in the book for time-wasting, Higgins for a late challenge on Brightly, and Simon Peddie for an innocuous midfield tackle.

A tired hoof into touch from lone striker Emeka Onwubiko — who had put in a tremendous shift following the dismissal of May — prompted Town to bring on fresh legs in the form of Courtney White, Junior Luke and then Craig Edwards Junior.

And it helped them keep Rocks at bay, with Brightly’s tip over from Higgins’ hooked volley the closest they came for a large portion of the second half.

With three minutes to go, Brightly was deemed to have dwelt too long over a goal kick and he was booked for time-wasting.

It would once again prove vital as — after making a brilliant near-post save to keep out Kris Newby’s rasping drive — the keeper was shown his second yellow for a shove on Kye Ruel.

He trudged off to a hard-earned hero’s ovation from a packed home crowd.

White had a chance to seal the win in the 98th minute when he burst through and drew a good stop out of keeper Jamie Riley.

But it did not matter and the final whistle sparked the increasingly familiar scenes of joy at New Lodge, where the faithful can now see the finishing line in sight.