Billericay Town 2 v 2 Bromley

Ryman Premier

THE dress-rehearsal for last night's Westview League Cup semi-final first leg was a classic game of two halves with Billericay Town dominating the first period and Bromley surging back in the second, writes Patrick Harris.

Town flew out of the traps and put Bromley under pressure straight away with Nathan Elder shooting just wide and Andy Walker making a great save from Lee Hodges.

Sam Wood was the Lillywhites' main threat but Town's Joe Flack opened the scoring on 24 minutes when he latched on to a low cross from the left.

In the second half Adam Greenway replaced Barry Gardner and Allan McLeod slotted into the right back position for extra stability.

It seemed to work with Wood shooting just over and Simon Mitchell firing narrowly wide.

However, Billericay struck again on 54 minutes with Daniel Brown crashing the ball into the roof of the net from a poorly cleared free kick.

To their credit Bromley did not quit and Adrian Stone had a shot saved by Dale Brightly.

Mitchell then fired just over before being replaced by top scorer Nic McDonnell making his return from a long injury lay off.

As snow began to fall, Walker made a good stop from Elder and the referee turned down a shout for handball but it was Bromley doing virtually all the attacking.

The breakthrough came on 80 minutes when a fantastic run by Wood saw the ball fly across the six yard box and Town centre back Brown deflected it wide of his own post and from the corner McDonnell bundled the ball in.

With 10 minutes remaining the Lillywhites went all out for an equaliser with Wood hitting the bar and McDonnell seeing his rebound cleared off the line.

From the corner McDonnell had a penalty shout turned down for a push before Gary Drewett was denied by Brightly.

It was the next corner which finally saw Bromley grab their point when another scramble in the goal mouth was converted by McDonnell inside the final minute.

In injury time Bromley nearly got the winner when a wicked Drewett corner was headed just over the bar by Des Boateng.

If this league clash is anything to go by the two legs of the Westview Cup will be entertaining affairs.

For a full report on last night's first leg, visit newsshopper.co.uk MATCH FACTS: BROMLEY: Walker; McLeod; Luckett; Henriques; Willy; Gardner (Greenway, 46); Drewett; Boateng; Stone; Mitchell (McDonnell, 63); Wood.

SUBS NOT USED: Vines.

ATT: 503.