Billericay Town 4–0 Leiston

(Cunnington 4’, Robinson 60’, 75’, 90')

From The AGP Arena

Isthmian Premier League

BILLERICAY Town were comfortable 3-0 winners against Leiston as another Jake Robinson hat-trick saw them close the gap on leaders Dulwich Hamlet.

Robinson and Cunnington got the goals that pushed Town to within three points of the leaders with games in hand.

Town had a good home record against Leiston and they looked odds on to extend that after just four minutes.

Josh Urquhart sent a drilled cross towards Cunnington from the left flank and the rangy striker climbed to head into the net.

Town were cruising, with the impressive Nicky Wheeler somehow missing the target from five yards midway through the half.

But it was an uninspiring first 45 minutes, with the best Leiston could muster a couple of shots over the crossbar.

Billericay felt they could have had a penalty early in the second period when Robinson went down but the referee was unmoved.

But he was to get his goal. A fine reverse pass from substitute Louis Theophanous found Robinson and he slotted the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs on the hour.

Jack Ainsley volleyed over from 15 yards when he should have hit the target for Leiston, and Josh Urquhart sent a shot at goal up the other end, goalkeeper Marcus Garnham making a smart stop.

Alan Julian had not been utilised in the home goal although he had to be at his best to keep out Dominic Docherty from a corner in a rare foray forward by Leiston.

Robinson netted his 28th goal of a remarkable season with 15 minutes to go, poking home after Dean Inman had headed towards goal.

And the scoring was completed in stoppage time as the striker slid in to convert a Theophanous cross and net his fifth hat-trick of the season.

Julian made another save low to his right as he made it four clean sheets in succession.

Billericay Town: Julian, Kizzi, Urquhart, Swaine, Inman, Deering, Pennant (Modeste 61’), Paine (Waldren 67’), Wheeler, Robinson, Cunnington (Theophanous 52’)