Without a win in four games, the Bay travelled to league leading Bishop’s Stortford in search of a positive result that could further boost their bid for survival.

However, the table-topping hosts took control from the get go and never look like letting it slip, running out 3-0 winners.

Sam Deering handed Bishop’s Stortford the lead inside the opening sixty seconds, lobbing the ball over Jordan Perrin from long range.

Marcel Barrington came close to drawing Kevin Watson’s side level when his free kick clattered against the crossbar, only for Ben Marlow to double the Blues’ lead with a low finish moments later.

The energetic Jonny Giles added a third on the hour mark as Bishop’s Stortford looked to squeeze the life out of the visitors.

But despite a flurry of late half chances, the Bay were outfought over the course of 90 minutes, leaving them to suffer a second successive defeat.

The Opposition

Billericay Town Football Club was formed in 1880 making it the 11th oldest club in Essex. It moved into the Romford & District League in 1890 competing in this league until 1914.
After the First World War, BTFC entered the Mid-Essex League where they remained until 1947. Between 1947 and 1966 they played in the Southern Essex Combination League. In 1966 they became founder-members of the Essex Olympian League.

Five years later, in 1971, Billericay Town Football Club became founder- members of the Essex Senior League and the clubs six-year stay in that competition saw them win the Championship three times and be Runners-Up twice (and third the other season). The League Cup was won four times and they were Finalists once. In addition, they won the League Challenge Cup the only time that it was competed for.

Whilst members of the Essex Senior League, the club won the FA Vase in 1976 beating Stamford 1-0 after extra-time at Wembley Stadium. The following season, 1976/1977, the club again reached the FA Vase Final. After a 1-1 draw at Wembley, the replay was played at Nottingham Forest F.C. Billericay Town emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield.
Progressing to the Athenian League in 1977, Billericay won the Championship and the League Cup in their first season. They became Champions again in 1978/1979 and were promoted into the Isthmian League.

After their success in the Athenian League, Billericay`s league successes continued in the Isthmian League when in their first season they won the Division 2 title with a winning margin of 17 points, scoring 100 goals in their 36 league matches. The following season, in Division 1, they finished as runners-up to Bishops Stortford - the first time in the history of the Isthmian League that a club had won promotion in two successive seasons on entry into the League.

Following re-organisation of the League, Billericay finished in third place in the newly formed Division Two and so gained promotion to Division One. That season, 1991/1992, they finished the season winning the Essex Thames-Side Trophy.

The 2010/11 season saw much local success. The first team lifted the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in 35 years and the club were in fact triple County winners as the youth development programme was rewarded with the Under 18 and Under 16 sides also winning their respective County Cup competitions. This success was built on in 2011/12 as the club finally secured promotion to the Blue Square Bet South as Ryman League Champions.

2018/19 saw the club lead the National League South Division early in the season and remain in the play-off places all season until the final day where they eventually finished 8th. The club also reached the 1st Round of the F.A. Cup earning a 1-1 draw at Chesterfield before losing the replay 3-1 at New Lodge.

Last season saw the club win the Essex Senior Cup for a fourth time when they beat Bowers & Pitsea 1-0 in the final at Colchester United. However, the clubs five-year spell in the Vanarama National League South came to an end as they finished bottom of the table and were relegated back into the Isthmian League.

Opposition so far

Currently, our hosts on Saturday have experienced a mixed campaign and currently sit 12th in the Isthmian League Premier Division table after 14 wins, six draws, and 13 losses from the 33 league games that they have completed, scoring 52 goals but conceding 51.

In their last outing against Lewes, who sit just one place above them in 11th, Kareem Isiaka’s 61st minute strike cancelled out Joe Taylor’s first-half effort for Lewes to earn Billericay a point at The Dripping Pan.

Key Players

John Ufuah (Forward)
Bradley Stevenson (Midfielder)
Marvel Ekpiteta (Defender)

Last time we met

The last time we faced Billericay Town was earlier this season on December 6, 2022. On that occasion, two goals from Kymani Thomas were cancelled out as Imran Uche and Bradley Stevenson ensured that our hosts on Saturday returned to Essex with a point.

Thomas got the Bay off to a fast start, scoring after only three minutes following a mistake among the Billericay ranks.

Imran Uche levelled things up midway through the first period, before a second strike from Thomas handed the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the break.

Bradley Stevenson’s second half penalty drew the visitors level as mid-table Billericay piled the pressure on Jordan Perrin’s goal.

But the Bay held firm and claimed a deserved point, extending their unbeaten run under the new management team to three games.

Ticket News

Adults: £12 adults
Concessions: £7
Young Adults (12-17): £5
Under 11s: £1

Tickets for the match can be ordered in advance from the Billericay Town website.

https://billericaytownfc.ktckts.com/event/bil2223h17/1st-team-v-herne-bay

Please be aware that the Stadium now operates a cashless system. Admission plus all food and drink will have to be paid for by Card.