Billericay Town 1-5 Kingstonian
NEW LODGE SHOW

Billericay Town seemed to outplay Kingstonian for about 65 minutes, yet lacking any kind of a cutting edge up front slumped to a 5-1 defeat. Despite an abundance of territory and possession, the Ks back three continually repelled them and after two counter-attack goals had put the visitors 2-0 up, the floodgates opened and Ks set about reducing their horrific negative goal difference.

The first half was dominated by Billericay, yet their only shots on goal were from distance. They invariably failed to hit the target and struggled to find the right ball in the final third to unlock the Ks defence. Goalkeeper Ashlee Jones saw a lot of the ball in his own half, yet rarely had to touch it.

For Ks part though, they had not even got that far down the creative process until five minutes before the break. Christian Jolley, who had had a torrid time defensively in his wing-back role, sprinted past Ashley Dumas on the counter-attack only to be clumsily tripped in the penalty area by the full-back.

Bobby Traynor hit a rather Southgatesque penalty but fortunately for Ks, Andy Walker came illegally off his line to save it. Traynor left nothing to chance with the re-take, putting the ball well beyond the goalkeeper's reach.

Former Hampton man Fiston Manuella came close after the break as Billericay continued to look dangerous. Another counter-attack finished them off on 65 minutes though, as Wilson-Denis fed Lodge to score Ks' second, from only their second shot on target.

Billericay heads dropped and Ks began to rack up the sort of scoreline that the balance of play had not merited. Walker punched a cross weakly clear under pressure from Lodge and Simon Huckle headed home a third, before Wilson-Denis showed great persistence to hold off Dumas and send the visitors four to the good.

Substitute Karl Beckford made it five in stoppage time when his twenty-yard effort beat Walker at the near post. A late James Baker consolation extended Ks run without a clean sheet to nine games but it failed to take the gloss off of a remarkable win for Alan Dowson's side.