11:15am Tuesday 31st August 2010
DANNY Charge’s late goal secured Billericay Town bragging rights in their bank holiday derby with Canvey Island.
Charge netted in the 75th minute after an even match at New Lodge.
The striker capitalised when a Billericay cross was directed into his path by a Canvey defender.
“We have won 1-0 and I think we deserved it because we are a better side than them,” said Billericay boss Craig Edwards.
“I think we were the better side today and our keeper has not had a save to make.
“Both sides looked a bit tired in the second half, but I think we were comfortable. We should have added a second after we scored, but to be honest it was a bit of a dour game and there were not a lot of chances.”
Edwards admitted he was pleased with the way things had been going for Town and said the team was on track for where he wanted them to get to.
“We are currently eighth and we will be looking to improve on that as the season continues,” added Edwards.
Canvey manager John Batch felt there was a foul leading up to the goal and claimed new signing Alex Rhodes had his ankle clipped before Town gained possession.
“It was quite a tight game but we had the lion’s share of the possession and created the better chances, but whoever scored was going to win the game,” said Batch.
“I’m afraid they broke away and scored after what we feel is a foul that was not given.
“They didn’t deserve the three points and a draw would have been a fair result.”
The defeat was Canvey’s first of the season, although Batch was confident that the Islanders would bounce back against a Tooting & Mitcham side beaten 3-0 by early leaders Sutton United.
For Billericay, it was a welcome return to winning ways after a draw and a defeat followed their opening day 3-0 victory over Tonbridge Angels.
The win also sets Town up nicely ahead of their trip to Sutton on Saturday.
“Sutton will be a real test of how far we have got to go,” added Edwards. “We will look forward to the game and go there in a confident mood.
“I have a good record at Sutton and invariably the matches are high scoring ones, so I’m hoping Saturday’s game will follow that trend and we’ll get another win.”
Concord Rangers are still looking for their first Ryman Premier win of the season following a 2-0 defeat to Lowestoft Town at Thames Road.
Strikers Lee McGlone and Danny Bloomfield grabbed the goals as Lowestoft made it three wins on the spin following their opening day defeat to Carshalton.
Concord have had two draws and two defeats since their promotion to the Ryman top flight last season.
Aveley are another team looking for their first league win of the season, but after notching up three consecutive draws, Alan Kimble’s men went down 2-1 away to Bury Town for their first defeat of the campaign.
Grays Athletic emerged victorious by a 3-1 scoreline in a typically blood and thunder derby with Tilbury in Ryman Division One North.
Grays’ Danny Bunce ensured the hosts’ first-half superiority was rewarded with a goal when he crashed a fantastic shot past Dockers stopper James Marrable in the 19th minute.
Grays spurned several chances and were made to pay in the 66th minute when Jack West headed home an equaliser for the Dockers.
But Grays refused to panic and a touch of class from striker Jared Small restored their advantage.
The frontman swivelled on the edge of the box and chipped the ball cleverly over Marrable.
The game was sealed eight mintues from time when Small bagged his second of the game, slotting coolly past Marrable.
The clash, the sides’ first in the league for many years, was watched by a healthy crowd of 427, despite the game being played at Grays’ temporary ground, Rookery Hill, the home of East Thurrock United, in Corringham.
Afterwards Grays boss Julian Dicks paid tribute to his players, who he says are now beginning to gel as a team.
He said: “We bossed the game really and switched off at the start of the second half when they scored, but we dug in for the remainer of the game and got what we deserved in the end.
“The players have only really been together for five or six weeks and it takes time to gel. But they have done everything I have asked of them and we are getting there.”
With Grays playing at their home, East Thurrock United were on the road yesterday and returned with an impressive 2-0 win at Waltham Forest, which sent them second in the table.
Thurrock are still looking for their first Blue Square Bet South win of the season following three draws and a hat-trick of defeats.
Fleet travelled to Dover’s Perry’s Crable Stadium home and were undone by Adam Birchall’s 19th-minute penalty, although Thurrock pressed hard for an equaliser.
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