Preview - Billericay Town (A) - Tuesday 7th January
Wealdstone’s National League South fixture against Billericay Town at New Lodge will be played this evening as the pitch has passed an afternoon inspection.
THE DETAILS
Billericay Town vs Wealdstone
National League South
New Lodge, CM12 9SA
Tuesday 7th January, 7:45pm kick-off
THE CONTEXT
Wealdstone will look to extend their four-point lead at the top of the National League South after defeat at Oxford City last weekend. Billericay Town have had a disastrous few weeks, with multiple postponements disrupting their fixture schedule, they have slipped to 17th in the division and are winless in their last seven games.
TEAM NEWS
Former Billericay defender Michee Efete has only missed one Stones game this season, which could extend further on Tuesday after he rolled his ankle at Oxford City last Saturday. Full-back Nick Arnold was released and signed for Dartford on the weekend, so Dean Brennan may look to slot Jake Sheppard into full-back or switch formation at New Lodge.
FORM GUIDE
Billericay Town:
Bath City (A) 2-1 (Noel-Williams)
Chelmsford City (H) 1-1 (Kefalas)
Concord Rangers (A) 4-1 (Akinwande)
Dartford (A) 3-2 (Akinwande, Robinson)
Tonbridge Angels (A) 3-2 (Akinwande, Alfa)
Wealdstone:
Oxford City (A) 3-2 (Mendy, Coombes)
Slough Town (H) 2-1 (Efete, Lafayette)
St Albans City (H) 1-0 (Lewis)
Slough Town (A) 2-1 (Efete)
Eastbourne Borough (H) 2-0 (Lewis, Okimo)
WHO TO WATCH FOR
Femi Akinwande: Winger Akinwande signed for Billericay from Braintree Town in November and scored three goals in his first three starts for Jamie O’Hara’s side. Akinwande has been a bright spark in Billericay’s recent poor form and has stapled his name into O’Hara’s starting 11.
Jake Robinson: Top scorer Robinson has scored 20 goals in all competitions for Billericay this season, and O’Hara said, “He looked tired over the last few games” as he was dropped at Bath City on Saturday; O’Hara explained that, “he will likely start…against Wealdstone”. Robinson netted his 100th Billericay goal earlier this season and scored against the Stones at New Lodge in August 2018.
LAST TIME OUT
Sheppard gave the Stones a half-time lead against Billericay at The Vale last season. Dan Waldren put the Essex side level early in the second half and both teams took a share of the points on the last Monday night home game of the season. Current Stones players Efete, Ross Lafayette and Adam Coombes all featured for the away side that evening.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played – 19
Billericay Town – 9
Draw – 7
Stones – 3
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
February 2019: Stones 1-1 Billericay Town (Sheppard)
August 2018: Billericay Town 1-0 Stones
February 2018: Billericay Town 2-5 Stones (Bubb 3, Wellard, Whichelow)
April 2014: Billericay Town 4-2 Stones (Malcolm, Wright)
March 2014: Stones 2-0 Billericay Town (Cronin, Wright)
Preview by Dec O’Reilly