Wednesday 9th December 2009, Mill Field, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Fourth Round.
An entertaining clash at Mill Field saw Aveley get the better of Billericay Town to progress the last eight of the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex.
At the third time of trying, following two postponements due to the recent inclement weather, the game saw Billericay take an early lead before the home side edged ahead only to be pegged back again, all before half-time. It was Aveley, though, who eventually proved the stronger, clinching the tie after the break.
There were barely 2 minutes on the clock when Billericay grabbed the initiative, a Harrison Chatting corner eventually being picked-up by Dave Wareham whose curling shot found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The visitors could then have doubled their lead when Millers ‘keeper Rhys Madden held onto Jason Cleaver’s low volley after neat play by Danny Slatter before the home side came close, Ryan Edgar sliding a shot into the side netting following a low Junior Dadson centre.
Aveley had created opportunities when Nicky Symons nodded off-target and Sam Holloway lobbed a long-range effort over the top before they deservedly drew level on 32 minutes, Dadson picking-up a loose ball 25 yards from goal before turning and hitting a thumping shot in off the underside of the crossbar. Seven minutes later the home side were ahead. Billericay ‘keeper Lewis Lockyer inexplicably picked-up a back pass from Michael Shinn and was duly punished when Sherwin Stanley laid-off the resulting free-kick for Edgar to smash home.
However, the visitors fought back well and pulled the game level a minute before the interval, Wareham grabbing his second of the evening as his chipped effort beat stranded stopper Madden and dropped into the corner of the net. The second period also started brightly, Chatting firing into the side net after a low ball by Cleaver and Millers front man Edgar shooting just wide after a Darren Quinton lay-off.
Lockyer made a brave block to deny the ever-dangerous Dadson as the hosts began to pile on pressure and only a great sliding tackle by visiting defender Chris Wild prevented Stanley before Doyle headed a Piers Wixon cross narrowly off-target. But Aveley re-gained the lead on 78, Dadson brilliantly chasing the ball down on the left before slipping a low centre into the danger area for Stanley to stab home from close range.
With five minutes left to play the tie was sealed when the home side grabbed a fourth, Billericay failing to clear their lines and allowing substitute David Knight to capitalise and shoot into the bottom corner from 15 yards to send his team through to an away quarter-final match-up against current holders, Chelmsford City.
Aveley: Rhys Madden, Ryan Doyle, Sam Holloway, Nicky Symons, Michael Alaile, Richard Ketchell, Piers Wixon (Mitch Hahn, 75), Darren Quinton (David Knight, 79), Sherwin Stanley, Ryan Edgar, Junior Dadson. Unused Substitute: Martin Tuohy.
Billericay Town: Lewis Lockyer, Tommy Osbourne, Ashley Dumas, Michael Shinn, Greg Oates, Chris Wild, Harrison Chatting, Danny Slatter, Jacob Cleaver (Danny Green, 60), Billy Bricknell, Dave Wareham. Unused Substitutes: Lee Kersey, Luca Frankis, Ryan O’Rawe.
Bookings: None.
Referee: Andrew Parker (Stanford-le-Hope).
Assistant Referees: Craig Pullen (Ilford) and Graham Bellingham (Grays).
Attendance: 87.
Man-of-the-Match: Junior Dadson (Aveley): Another terrific performance on the left flank. Involved in virtually every Aveley move and used his electric pace to beat defenders. Chipped-in with a stunning goal as well as setting-up the crucial third.