RYMAN PREMIER: Billericay Town boss Craig Edwards has played down concerns that a fixture backlog could come back to bite them as the season wears on.

Town have been hit by a number of postponements this term, primarily at home, meaning they could be forced to play three times a week unless the weather improves.

But as 12th-placed Billericay prepare for a match against Bognor Regis Town, the side one place above them in the league, Edwards is confident his side are fresher than ever heading into the final third of the season.

“It can work both ways,” he said. “We have a fully-fit squad at the moment and all the players are fresh for this weekend’s game. So, in that sense, having some time off has worked in our favour. There is no hint, mentally or physically, of tiredness and anyone that knows me realises that is not a word we use here.

“We had six to eight players out for the East Thurrock United and Dulwich Hamlet games but we go to Bognor with a very strong 18-man squad.

“Bognor have always played good football so we know it will be a tough game. They have a good pitch down there and a decent home record.”

Edwards signed former Concord Rangers goalkeeper Joe Wright this week, following the news that his number one Billy Lumley would be moving to Australia in a fortnight.

And he believes Wright, a former teammate of Town duo Harry Baker and Ryan Melaugh, is an ideal replacement between the posts.

“I know Steve Walduck (goalkeeping coach at Wright’s former club Bishop’s Stortford) very well and he said we should take a look at Joe as he had recently left the club,” said Edwards. “I spoke with him and he is a good lad as well as a very good keeper. We were given enough time to get in a good replacement and it has worked well for us.”

Wright will have a hard act to follow, as Lumley inspired Town to victory in the Essex Senior Cup on Monday, saving twice in the penalty shoot-out against Brightlingsea Regent.

And Edwards is delighted his side is still going strong in the competition.

“We weren’t at our best on Monday night,” he admitted. “And to be honest I was a bit disappointed as I would have expected to see a bit more gusto as we hadn’t played on Saturday.

“In the five years I have been here I don’t think we have won a penalty shoot-out so it was nice to go through this time. I would have put my house on Sapps (Ricky Sappleton) scoring (he missed) but luckily it went for us in the end.”

Edwards and Town will now play a semi-final clash at Aveley, the same side who knocked them out of the Ryman League Cup last season.