Tuesday night non league round up: Lechmere winner boosts Billericay survival hopes (From Echo)

Tuesday night non league round up: Lechmere winner boosts Billericay survival hopes

12:52pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Non-league Football By James Colasanti

SAM Lechmere scored the winner to give Billericay Town’s Conference South survival hopes a healthy boast on Tuesday night.

The skilful winger smashed home a right-foot volley from a Junior Luke cross following a Jay May flick on five minutes after half-time to secure Town’s first win since mid-January.

It came just a minute after Fanborough’s new signing Richard Peniket had scored to cancel out May’s 14th minute headed opener for the hosts from a Glenn Poole cross.

It moved Billericay up to third-from-bottom and a pushed derby rivals Hornchurch down a place.

Billericay are now two points behind Staines, who occupy the final safety place, and they have three games in hand on the Surrey side.

Concord Rangers kept their play-off push – and outside title hopes – alive with a gritty 1-0 win at Enfield Town in the Ryman Premier. Jason Hallett maintained his fine form with a 53rd minute winner for the Beachboys, who are now third in the division.

It was a night where Concord rode their luck, though, with Enfield’s Scott McGleish hitting the post with a 66th minute penalty.

Former Hornchurch striker Leon McKenzie made his debut for Concord when he replaced Hallett on the hour mark.

The result saw Concord climb to third in the table, 12 points behind leaders Whitehawk with four games in hand. Their neighbours Canvey – who did not play - dropped to fourth.

Thurrock remain in the relegation places after their 1-0 derby defeat at East Thurrock.

Matt Turpin’s own goal in the 17th minute settled it as Fleet were unable to find a reply, despite the Rocks being reduced to 10 men after a red card for Ryan Sammons in the first half.

Southend Manor made it three wins in a row with a 4-1 demolition of visitors Enfield 1893 in the Essex Senior League.

Jamie Salmon gave them the lead with a penalty midway through the first-half, but the visitors levelled at the start if the second half with a scrappy finish from Ashley Taylor Forbes.

Manor re-took the lead just before the hour with a nice finish from Adam Vyse, and he tapped in a third soon after.

Brad Vaughan ended any hopes of a comeback by heading home from a free-kick on 74 minutes.

And there was a crushing win for Hullbridge Sports at Bowers & Pitsea.

A brace apiece for Jimmy Cox and Jordan Williams gave Sports a commanding 4-0 lead, before Chris Brown pulled one back for the hosts on 66 minutes.

But Michael Edgar scored the visitors’ fifth in injury time to seal a fine win.