Lewes 0-2 Billericay

Lewes's poor start to the Ryman Premier League continued as they had no response to Billericay's two first half goals.

Lewes were never in the game, once again going behind within the first ten minutes in what was a frustrating day for Garry Wilson against a well organised, strong Billericay side.

Neither side had any real chances before the 8th minute when Garry Elphick was judged to have jumped unfairly with Ricky Sappleton on the edge of the Lewes area. Sappleton took the free kick himself placing the ball in to the left hand corner of the goal beyond Rikki Banks' reach. It was only ten minutes later that Lewes found themselves two goals down as their former midfielder Callum Dunne slotted the ball past Banks again.

Lewes can have no complaints after being defeated by Billericay. The Sussex side were poor all over the park, being outmuscled and outfought for the majority of the game. Every chance Lewes did create, the Billericay back four did a good job of mopping up right up to the final whistle.

Lewes failed to show the spirit that was with them on Wednesday night when the came back from two goals down to draw with AFC Hornchurch, and despite a better last twenty minutes and a potential penalty shout, Lewes failed to hit back at all.

Not a very good game.

The Dripping Pan 

It was the first Saturday home game of the season, for many the first time they had been at the Pan in the sunshine for a long while.

Many were trying out the new food company, sampling a Rooks burger, or watching Manchester United lose to Swansea inside the Rook Inn. The two goal comeback in midweek and given fans a sense of optimism for the day. If Lewes could perform how they did in the final thirty minutes of that game then they would do well today.

The team sheet went up and there was a good reaction that Elliot Romain would be making his first start after signing in the Summer from Three Bridges. Romain had provided the necessary spark on Wednesday night and fully deserved his start. Romain came in to the side for Ebbsfleet loanee Jordan Sanderson.

Left back Sam Cole was still suspended for Lewes and so that meant a debut for young left back Jerome Jibodu while Steve Brinkhurst have his knee a rest. Key midfielders Jack Walder and Jack Dixon were also ruled out through injury/suspension meaning Byron Napper and Fraser Logan were once again in charge in the middle of the park.

Last season Lewes drew with Billericay at home, a result they were hoping to better to pick up their first three points of the season.

First Half 

Right from the off it was clear that Billericay's tactics had not changed. From the moment their back for got the ball there was only one target, and that was to launch the ball down field towards Ricky Sappleton, a big lad, who was superb in controlling and keeping hold of the ball.

However, this was not Billericays only threat, with a couple of tricky wingers and Callum Dunne performing excellently in midfield, Billericay appear to have put together a very well organised outfit that could well be challenging for promotion again this season.

The chances Lewes did manage to create were weak, a wayward shot from Nicky Wheeler and a soft header from Terry Dodd were about the best Lewes could muster.

It could not be said that the work rate was not there. Napper, Romain, Blewden and Dodd in particular worked tirelessly chasing balls down, but the service from the back and midfield was just not good enough for Lewes to get past the Billericay back line.

On the eight minute Billericay took the lead. Another long ball from the Billericay keeper met its target in Sappleton, however, Garry Elphick won the ball in the air but was penalised for having his arms laid on the Billericay strikers back. A free kick was awarded and taken by Sappleton, placing the ball beyond Rikki Banks in to the top corner.

Lewes tried to get a goal back quickly, winning a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions on the left hand side, however, Nicky Wheelers effort was far from goal bound.

Sure enough just ten minutes later Billericay had found the net again. This time a ball in from the left hand side should have been comfortably cleared by Jibodu, however he failed to clear the penalty area, allowing former Rook Callum Dunne to slot the ball underneath Rikki Banks before running off and celebrating with the noisy away support.

Neither side really threatened again in the first half with both teams becoming able to deal with long balls.

Second Half 

Many may have been expecting with another earful from Garry Wilson, Lewes might come out and show something else for the second half, however the game continued as though it had never stopped, both sides unsuccessfully launching long ball towards each others box.

Fraser Logan was quickly replaced after a performance he is likely to forget quickly. The former Crawley Down man did not look in the best of moods having been taken off, striding towards the dressing room rather than warming down. George Branford came on replacing him in a bid to give Lewes a more attacking edge.

Alex Malins was also brought off on the hour, being replaced by Steve Brinkhurst, and while Brinkhurst did get forward more than Malins, he could not make a huge difference to the game.

Billericay edged the majority of the half, however neither side created much in the way of chances, both defences seeming to be cleaning up everything that came their way. Man of the match Garry Elphick had gained control of Sappleton, meaning Billericay had become much less of a threat despite the wind being behind them.

For the final twenty minutes Lewes gained control of the game but were not able to carve open Billericay as they would have liked. The best chance came to Nathan Crabb in the Billericay area where he was just about to pull the trigger before appearing to be sliced down by a defender. The referee waved his hands indicating no foul, much the frustration of the Lewes fans in the Philcox stand.

The game was beginning to open up for the final ten minutes and Billericay nearly added a third when Sappleton broke free of his shackles, knocking Byron Napper to the ground before barging through the Lewes defence and in to the penalty area. A last ditch block/ challenge from Ollie Rowe saw the ball fall to another of Billericay's attackers but his shot cannoned back off the post.

Lewes continued to press for a goal in the last few minutes but apart from a couple of soft headers towards goal, they did not get a look in.

Disappointment is the word that would sum up the mood around the Dripping Pan after the game.