Chelmsford City 1–2 Billericay Town

(Green 35’: Evans 24’, Butcher 60’)

From the Weston Homes Community Stadium

Essex Senior Cup final

BILLERICAY Town defeated Chelmsford City 2-1 to lift the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in seven years.

Robbie Evans and Calum Butcher scored the goals to hand Town their first silverware of the season, as Glenn Tamplin’s team recorded another win against higher-tiered opposition and the current cup holders.

There was nothing between the two teams in the first 10 minutes with shots off target from the Clarets’ Taylor Miles and Town’s Matt Paine.

Both had promising moments without forcing a save of note before the game burst into life.

On 24 minutes Adam Cunnington slid the ball into the marauding Evans and he took a touch and blasted into the far corner.

But moments later it could have been all square. A corner was worked to Danny Green and his powerful strike was well blocked on the line by Evans.

The Clarets were in the ascendency. Green was halted by goalkeeper Jack Giddens, restored between the sticks, and Michael Spillane could only turn the rebound onto the post.

And Chelmsford were to deservedly draw level. A move down the left saw the ball worked across to Green who took a touch and thrashed high into the near corner of the net.

But despite the Clarets looking the more creative it was Billericay that almost went into half-time in front.

Sam Deering’s cross was met by Butcher and his headed was tipped over by Sam Beasant.

The second half began in much the same manner with neither able to create a clear-cut opportunity.

But the first chance of note brought the third goal of the match. A free-kick down the left was worked to Butcher and he smashed beyond the goalkeeper.

Chelmsford had failed to hit the heights of the first half as they struggled to create against a stubborn Town defence but it took the frame of the goal to prevent them drawing level.

Jonathan Giles lashed an unstoppable effort from 20 yards which beat Giddens but not the crossbar.

Giddens made a fine stop to keep out substitute Kudus Oyenuga and that was to be enough as Town held on for the win.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Kizzi, Urquhart, Foley (Bricknell 59’), Swaine, Deering, Paine (Waldren 59’), Evans, Robinson, Cunnington, Butcher (O’Hara 70’)

Chelmsford City: Beasant, Braham-Barrett (Graham 72’), Omozusi, Spillane, Smith, Green (Barnard 87’), Church, Batt (Oyenuga 76’), Dickson, Giles