We’ve an all blue -and all Essex- Final

Billericay Town and Brentwood Town emerged victorious from two goal-packed Semi-Finals, Billericay running out three-two winners against Chatham Town whilst Brentwood won four-one against Aveley at Parkside.

That match at Parkside, in front of a thousand fans, remained goalless until fourteen minutes from time- and yet, somehow, ended up with five! Brentwood went ahead on seventy six minutes, when a cross from Daniel Ogunleye found Matt Cripps (or, depending on which source you believe, Bradley Sach) at the back post, but four minutes from time the Millers were level, Jesse Nwabueze scoring a stunner. 

The referee added on fourteen extra minutes, and they were full of joy- for the away fans. Five of those minutes had been played when the official pointed to the spot for a handball, and Ade Cole put away the spot kick to restore Brentwood’s lead. The Millers immediately pushed for an equaliser, but that left them short at the back, and Louie Johnson was able to make it three. Still they weren’t finished, and with one hundred and six minutes played Jesse Olukolo added a fourth, ensuring that Brentwood Town were through to yet another Promotion Final.

They’ll travel to Billericay, a dominant first half performance seeing the Blues through against Chatham Town at New Lodge. It looked as if things would be easy for the hosts when first Jon Benton on twelve minutes and then Frankie Merrifield on seventeen made it one and two-nil, and when Keon Lewis-Burgess added a third just before the break the margin looked unassailable. At that point, however, the Chats roused themselves, and Sam Sene-Richardson quickly got one back. Twenty minutes from time Chatham got another, Kian Moynes pulling it back to three-two, but, to the delight of most of the two thousand, seven hundred and fifty seven watching on, the comeback ended there, and we suspect that most of them will be back on Monday afternoon for the Final.

Image from Nicky Hayes. 

Congratulations to both winners, we’ll see you on Monday. Commiserations to Aveley and Chatham; it’s a terrible way to end a fine season.