Browne's Blunder Blights Bulpin's Boys At Billericay
by Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

29th January 2002

Billericay's New Post Lodge ground is Chelmsford's temporary home until they move into their proposed new ground back in Chelmsford.

The pitch was in excellent condition considering the previous week's rain, although a gale force wind blew from left to right and made high balls a lottery.

David Laws was unavailable due to work commitments and Michael Dean was injured with a groin strain, this allowed Alex Browne and Ryan Cross places in the starting line up as Weymouth lined up with a 4-4-2 formation with Simon Browne at centre half.

The Terras started the match with the knowledge that a win tonight would haul themselves back up to second in the table and relight their title ambitions; a loss would all but extinguish those dreams.

Chelmsford had all the play in the first half-an-hour Brian Statham, Ian Cambridge and Neil Goff all blasted shots just wide from a distance and Matty Hale had to produce a superb cover tackle to halt Gerry crosses surge into the box.

But the Terras hauled themselves back into the game after half-an-hour and a crisp passing move initiated by Darran Rowbotham ended with Alex Browne firing narrowly wide.

Then a Simon Browne free kick from outside the area was blocked by Hurst the home side glove man, with the ball coming back to Browne he beat two players but sent his shot wide.

On 44 minutes Weymouth were awarded a penalty after Chelmsford's Ben Lewis handled in the area. Simon Browne stepped forward to take his 9th penalty in succession, having scored from the last eight, but this time he blasted high and wide of Richard Hurst goal. So at half-time the scores remained nil-nil.

City took the lead on 47 minutes when the defence was caught napping by Ian Cambridge whose cross to the far post was met by the head of Neil Gough whose looping header sailed over Potters head and into the back of the net.

City nearly increased the lead two minutes later when former Stevenage Borough striker Mike Bignall almost marked his debut with a goal as he out jumped Potter to meet another Cambridge cross, but sent his header over the bar.

Weymouth had a strong shout for another penalty when goalkeeper Hurst rushed out and bundled Lee Phillips to the ground. After lengthy attention from the Weymouth physio Matthew Hale took the corner, the ball was cleared to Hutchinson who intelligently flicked the ball forward to Phillips. With his back to goal and 18 yards out he turned and volleyed the ball past Hurst. The Terras surged forward looking to take the lead but it was Cambridge who made the breakthrough when the Terras defence failed to cut out another Cambridge cross and waiting at the far post was tall John Girling who hit home from close range.

Chelmsford should have gone further ahead when Cambridge broke through the Weymouth defence and with only Potter to beat he blazed very high of the crossbar.

From then on it was all Weymouth, but wave after wave of Weymouth attacks were repelled by a stout and well organised Chelmsford back four and also the men in yellow shirts failing to use the hard won ball once it was in the box.

Parker came on for Hale and Underhay replaced Rawlinson. Both made useful additions to the Weymouth attack, Parker especially made two wavering runs down the left flank into the home side's box only to be thwarted at the last moment.