Billericay Town 4-0 Wingate & Finchley

From New Lodge

Ryman Premier League

BILLERICAY Town manager Craig Edwards said Saturday’s 4-0 win over Wingate & Finchley was an excellent end to a “very positive season”.

Tom Derry scored a hat-trick for Billericay, with Connor Hubble adding a late fourth, as Billericay crushed sorry Wingate who did not show up for the occasion.

Edwards ends the season with just two of the squad that finished the campaign last term and he says a ninth-placed finish is a credit to his side.

And but for a six-match winless run in recent weeks, he feels Billericay would be celebrating a play-off tie this week.

“It has been a good season with a lot of positives,” said Edwards. “It mirrors last season in some ways but it is now about keeping this team together.

“We went on a great run (one defeat in 20 league games) and there was always going to be a period when it caught up with us.

“But we can be very pleased in all. We changed the formation for this match and the forwards had a great game. Tom ends the season as top scorer (15) but it was a real team effort this season.”

Town had gone six matches without a win and manager Craig Edwards would have wanted a fast start against Wingate & Finchley.

And that was exactly what he got, as Town grabbed the opener with just 60 seconds on the clock. A straight kick from goalkeeper Jack Giddens was flicked on by Jordan Cox and Derry lobbed over Wingate stopper Charlie Crowley.

Billericay were well on top, with Cox heading narrowly over although Alex Stephenson did divert a strike against his own crossbar as Wingate briefly threatened.

But Town deservedly stretched their lead after 10 minutes when neat work down the left from Derry saw the forward jink inside, sell the defender a dummy and power home.

And Derry wrapped up his hat-trick after 25 minutes, although he owed a lot of it to Mike Fondop who kept the ball in on the near touchline and pulled back for Derry to tap home.

Teddy Nesbitt forced a save from Crowley, with the keeper denying Derry a certain fourth with a finger-tip save.

Cox shot over for a rampant Billericay, with same man kept out by Crowley seconds later. Derry and Fondop missed further good chances in what was a dismal opening 45 minutes from Wingate.

Billy Healey missed two golden chances at the start of the second half to drag Wingate back into the match, while Town were content to sit on their three goal advantage.

Town did get a final goal for their efforts, with Connor Hubble picking up the pieces and striking home at the near post with five minutes remaining.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Diallo, Putt, Hubble, Okosieme, Stephenson, Fondop (Vaughan), Hazet, Derry, Cox (Sodje), Nesbitt (Poole)