Lewes 2–3 Billericay Town

From the Dripping Pan

Ryman Premier League

 

ONOME Sodje came off the bench to score a late winner against Lewes to hand Billericay their second win in five days.

He headed a late winner, following up a brace from Mike Fonlop, to lift Craig Edwards’ men to 13th in the standings.

Billericay enjoyed a superb 6-0 win in midweek, to give them the boost they needed after they woeful performance against Hampton & Richmond Borough last weekend.

And they visited Lewes in high spirits, with a number of key personnel returning to the line-up.

Connor Hubble had an early chance, heading over from Tom Derry’s centre, but it was the visitors that scored with their first clear-cut opportunity.

Robin Deen beat Jack Giddens composedly to hand the hosts the advantage, with Joe Ellul limping off moments later to compound their misery.

He was replaced by Onome Sodje and the striker was only prevented from levelling the scores by an offside flag soon after his arrival.

But Fondop was proving quite a hit at Town, scoring his second in two games with a fortunate header, after deflecting Hubble’s effort goalwards.

Sodje headed down the goalkeeper’s throat soon after with Fondop missing a golden chance in the second period, as he broke through only to be denied by Nik Tzanev.

Hubble was the next to come close, but his header was superbly kept out by Lewes defender Henry Muggeridge.

Town did take the lead on the hour mark, as Fondop profited from some good work by Sodje only for Lewes to level three minutes later, Muggeridge crashing past Giddens to make it 2-2.

Elliot Levy was kept out by Giddens, while Fondop missed a golden chance to claim his hat-trick leaving Sodje to make the headlines.

The striker nodded home at the near post to ensure the points.

 

Billericay Town: Giddens, Williams, Nesbitt, Okosieme, Curley, Ellul, Derry, Hazlewood, Akurang (Edwards), Fondop, Hubble