Billericay Town 1-0 Tooting & Mitcham United

(Modeste 90')

From the AGP Arena

Isthmian Premier League

RICKY Modeste scored a 97th minute winner to hand Billericay Town a seventh straight league win and keep them top of the Isthmian Premier League.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men, with stand-in captain Rob Swaine sent off for the second consecutive match, on a largely frustrating afternoon.

But it was substitute Modeste who stepped up to send the Billericay fans home happy.

He had earlier replaced Jake Robinson, who was the man grabbing the headlines in front of goal.

But it was one of Billericay’s defensive-minded midfielders that almost broke the deadlock.

Four minutes in Danny Waldren flicked an effort at goal but although the ball beat the goalkeeper it didn’t beat the woodwork, as the ball was cleared having hit the top of the bar.

Matte Pierson may have been expecting a busy afternoon in the home goal, and he was needed to divert Sam Deering’s powerful effort away.

Town were handed a significant blow on 20 minutes when division top scorer Robinson was substituted after tweaking his hamstring.

Despite the set-back Billericay remained in the ascendency. Joe Ellul and Louie Theophanous threatened, although Alan Julian was called into action in the home goal for the first time just before the break – saving with his legs.

Into the second-half, Ellul had the ball in the net but a foul on the goalkeeper meant the strike was ruled out.

The referee then ruled Deering was offside after he found the net as the frustration grew for the hosts.

Jordan Wilson was sent off for Tooting as Billericay looked to make their dominance count although Town were soon to be dealt a blow of their own.

Swaine, sent off last week, was dismissed once again for committing a last-man foul – as the Essex outfit continue to struggle with discipline.

But the drama wasn’t over. A ball was sent into the penalty area in the final throes of the game and Modeste nodded past the goalkeeper.

Billericay Town: Julian, Urquhart, Kebbie, Ellul, Swaine, Deering, Evans (Lynch 71’), Waldren, Theophanous, Robinson (Modeste 18’), Cunnington