Chatting inspires Billericay victory (From Echo)

Chatting inspires Billericay victory

2:47pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Billericay Town & Concord Rangers: Ryman Premier By James Colasanti

A HARRISON Chatting brace in the second half gave title-chasing Billericay victory against promotion-hopefuls Hendon last night.

The match was only made possible by a fantastic effort from about 40 volunteers at the club who cleared a thick layer of snow from the pitch over the weekend.

And they were rewarded with a dominant display against a highly-rated visiting side, and three very valuable points in their hunt for the Ryman Premier title.

It was a very tentative opening 20 minutes which was finally punctured when home keeper Dale Brightly was forced into a low parry from Greg Ngoyi's long-range effort.

And that finally seemed to spark the league leaders into life as they took control and kept it for the rest of the half.

Chatting was warned for diving in the box by the ref after going down under a challenge from Ryan Wharton. And the pacy winger was in the thick of it again soon after as he flashed a shot wide after the Hendon defence failed to deal with Sam Berry's corner.

Glenn Poole hit a 25-yard effort through a crowded penalty box and a few feet wide, before Dave Diedhiou was forced into a last-ditch block to deny Courtney White a clear sight of goal.

And seven minutes before the break Jay May squandered a glorious opportunity as he head tamely at visiting keeper Berkley Laurencin after Chatting’s in-swinging cross had given him a clear sight of goal.

Hendon continued to sit deep in an attempt to frustrate Town after the restart with the unlucky Ngoyi given the unenviable task of toiling alone up front against imposing home centre backs Rob Swaine and Chris Wild.

And the hosts took the lead their dominance merited just before the hour mark as Sam Berry dug out a cross from the by-line which cleared everyone but the unmarked Chatting on the back post, and he nodded into the unguarded net.

And Chatting wrapped up the win 10 minutes from time as he raced onto White’s over-lapping pass and drilled into the bottom corner.

Hendon almost pulled one back immediately when sub Isaiah Rankin hit the post, but Berry then missed a glorious chance to make it 3-0.

Rankin added a fortuitous injury-time consolation when the ball held up in the mud and he beat Brightly and rolled the ball home.

The game ended with an ugly melee between both sides but it did nothing to spoil Town's night.

Billericay (4-4-2): Brightly; Oates, Swaine, Wild, Hawes; Chatting (Green 80), Poole (Sobers 101), Collis, Berry; May (Onwubiko 86), White.