Billericay Town 5–3 Met Police (AET)

(Robinson 11, Bricknell 86, 90, 96, Waldren 100: Bird 24, Wright 57, Hickey 59)

From Parkside

Isthmian League Cup final

A STUNNING hat-trick from Billy Bricknell won Billericay Town the Isthmian League Cup in the most unlikely of fashions.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the final five minutes of normal time, Billericay’s title defence looked all but over.

But two goals in the final seven minutes from Bricknell took the tie to extra-time.

And he completed his treble, his second in consecutive Isthmian League Cup finals, with a trademark curling drive six minutes into extra-time.

Town were strong favourites for the crown but despite taking an early lead struggled to cope with the threat of Met Police on the counter-attack.

Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick was the chief tormentor and notched two assists for Met Police, who missed a host of golden chances to put the game to bed at 3-1.

The underdogs started well and Billericay needed an early intervention from a recalled Nick Wheeler to preserve parity.

The winger headed off the goal-line after just three minutes before goalkeeper Jack Giddens was called into action, forcing a Tom Bird drive wide of the near post.

Liam Hughes sent a bicycle kick off target before playing a key role in the game’s first goal.

After 11 minutes, Hughes bravely ducked to control a ball and took a boot to the face but he stayed on his feet and sent a low cross into Jake Robinson.

The 52 goal man had a touch of good fortune as Met Police failed to clear their lines but he needed no second invitation, striking into the far corner.

But that was not a sign for the floodgates to open. Twelve minutes later the game was all square.

Excellent wing play by Hippolyte-Patrick saw him brought down by Josh Urquhart with the referee pointing to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Bird and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

There was not a lot between the teams for the rest of the half although Met Police had a chance to take the lead on the stroke of half-time.

A snapshot was palmed into the danger zone by Giddens but the stopper got up well to keep out Hippolyte-Patrick’s follow-up.

Met Police started the second half the brighter of the two and they got their reward 12 minutes into the half.

Robbie Evans backed off Hippolyte-Patrick and he played the ball into the path of Jonny Wright who made no mistake from near the penalty spot.

And Tom Hickey added his name to the scoresheet just 60 seconds later.

A corner was not cleared and the striker hammered home despite the efforts of Evans on the goal-line.

Giddens blocked a Hippolyte-Patrick goal bound effort as Met Police continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack.

And it wasn’t until the final five minutes that Billericay burst into life.

Substitute Adam Cunnington forced a decent stop out of Tom Williams before Bricknell grabbed Town’s second goal with four minutes remaining.

Picking up a Cunnington flick, the striker thrashed into the corner from 20 yards.

Billericay had a goal disallowed for offside as the game entered added time but Bricknell was saving his best for last.

The ball was worked to the left hand side of the penalty area and Bricknell lashed home high into the roof of the net.

And the striker’s moment in the sun was yet to come as he curled a terrific strike high into the net for his 34th goal of the season.

Danny Waldren added a fifth as Billericay eased to victory in another thrilling cup final.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Inman, Urquhart, Evans, Waldren, Hughes (Cunnington 67), O’Hara, Bricknell, Rooney (Paine), J. Robinson, Wheeler (Deering)

Met Police: Williams, Goode, Gallagher, Salmon, O. Robinson, Gasson, Hippolyte-Patrick, Robertson, Wright, Hickey, Bird