Burgess Hill Town 1–1 Billericay Town

From Leylands Park

Ryman Premier League

 

ONOME Sodje returned to Billericay Town with a bang as he came off the bench to secure a point at Burgess Hill Town.

The striker was recently recalled from a loan spell at Cray Wanderers and scored two minutes after the home side had gone ahead, and just seven after he had climbed from the substitute’s bench.

Billericay had impressed in recent weeks in the league and they looked bright against Burgess Hill from the off.

Tom Derry was looking lively alongside Cliff Akurang and he has the first clear-cut chance and it was all from his own making. The striker shot from 20 yards but, although it had the better of the goalkeeper, it flew just past the post.

New addition Quentin Monville was next to come close but the Frenchman’s fierce effort rattled the bar and flew to safety.

That was the best effort of the first period and Billericay manager Craig Edwards shook it up at half-time.

Chris Smith scored the goal five minutes after half-time but it only lasted two minutes.

Neat work from Derry in a wide position saw the ball drop to Sodje who flicked home.

Teddy Nesbitt was denied as Billericay looked to get the second goal but the best save of the afternoon kept the away side level.

Chris Smith burst through but Jack Giddens got down brilliantly to keep the score at 1-1.

Josh James had to be at his best to palm a Derry effort aside but the closest either side came to restoring an advantage was when Burgess Hill’s Dan Pearse had the time to bend an effort off the crossbar.

 

Billericay Town: Giddens, Diallo, Williams, Hubble, Ellul, Beavan, Monville (Cojocarel), Curley, Derry, Akurang (Sodje), Nesbitt