BRAINTREE 5 BILLERICAY 0

[GazzaBTFC]

I'll start the ball rolling...We were poor...the defence was naive, midfield, slow and nothing was offered up front...

 

How is it that we can play so well against a Conference side, yet against Braintree we just rolled over? If we played up to what we can do, at worst Braintree would've been a draw.

 

We have to pick ourselves up from this and get going again. We can do it and although the Trophy is a nice "aside" from the league, it is the league that is important and cannot let this happen again. Yeading have finally lost, Eastleigh also have lost and we play badly and "gift" the game 5 zip to Braintree, putting them in a pole position to challenge Yeading, should the wheels come off their wagon.

 

Looking at the league table, the only consolation is that we have three games in hand on Braintree and one on Yeading. They are going to mean nowt if we continue to throw games like today.

 

Lads, pick yourselves up, come on...Put this result behind us and move on...

 

On one point...I still think our squad is not deep enough and we need to look at two or three new players...Craig Johnson showed pace and effort...a step in the right direction.

[Simon BTFC]

Had all the classic ingredients of a trip to Braintree... Time wasting, weak refereeing, attempts to injure our players (Hunter knobbled by an elbow, the number 8 stamping on Keiran) however to add a bit of variety into the mix we decided not to defend.

 

5 goals that could and should have been stopped - but not by a team frightened to tackle. Quite frankly if the Trophy is going to prove this much of a distraction then the sooner we're out the better. The players' minds were clearly not on this match, and coupled with the defeat at Folkestone which Justin ascribed to the players having their minds on the Exeter game, it's 6 points that we haven't competed for, which is unacceptable. Braintree were nothing special, plenty of pace up front (so why was Pat on the bench - our quickest cb!) but they must have thought Christmas had come late as we let them run through and score easily.

 

We're really starting to miss Hockers as well, Cousins' scoring touch has dried up of late, and I don't think either Ross or Nathan, while both good prospects, are ready to fill a main striking role.

 

All in all very disappointing, and a good performance on Tuesday followed by a win against Eastleigh next week is now vital.

[Andy Walsh]

That was the worst performance i've seen in five years of watching Billericay. The only Billericay people to come out with any credit were the Billericay fans that stayed until the end. The only positives were Craig Johnston’s performance and the fact Paul Gothard won’t be suspended for a long time. He should have gone for the foul, which gave them the penalty.

 

The FA Trophy being a distraction is not much of an excuse. A top of the table clash against a local rival should have been enough to motivate the players. The lack of passion and effort was disappointing. The defending on all 5 goals was amateurish. Agree with Gazza that we need a few more players, particularly an experienced striker that can cause defences more problems.

 

The officials were appalling again. The amount of pushes, elbows, pulling of shirts etc that were missed was unbelievable. On a positive note the linesman was taken out by Kieran, which made me laugh.

 

That’s my rant over (travelling over 4 hours to and from Norwich for that hasn’t left me in the best of moods). I’m sure that this performance was a one off and we will give Exeter a good game and keep our good home league record going at Eastleigh. The players will be disappointed with their performance and I’m sure they’ll put it right on Tuesday.

 

www.billericaytownfc.20m.com

[Rod]

Disagree over Gothard being sent off, the striker had kicked the ball (off)before Goth kicked him, quite clearly he was not going to score so yellow card was correct.

 

Poor performance but the strange part was we had more possession yet the keeper did not have one save to make, then when they attacked the defence was shambolic.

 

Agree we need an experienced striker if possible who can hold the ball up and can put the ball in the net would be a bonus.

 

The draw against Exeter is turning into a lousy result for us and a major distration between two of the most important games this season. Must finish in the top five for the play offs and if Yeading win the league then second place with its home advantage throughout the play offs should be ideally obtained.

[extaffyjim]

I dont like to comment on games i havent seen, but this doesnt sound good enough. Exeter being a distraction is absolute b*ll*x to be honest. It is extremely unlikely that were gonna win that competition, and it should be nothing more than a sideshow, and a money spinner. Braintree was a much bigger game than either of the Exeter games in terms of our season.

We dont seem to travel well. While i think im correct in saying weve won 7 league games on the bounce at 'fortress new lodge', were giving up too many points on our travels. I think weve now lost 5 away from home which isnt really good enough for a team with title ambitions.

We need to take advantage of our games in hand, and keep our good home run going in what will surely be a tough game next week.

Oh well, if this result does have some relevance to Tuesdays game, we should give Exeter an absolute spanking in theory. Lets hope it was worth it.

[Ryan.c]

Is Billericay Town FC a [censored] holiday camp? The way the players played today would suggest so. This game was far more important than Exeter, [censored] the FA Trophy. We supposedly have full-time players, where were they? Out-fought, out-muscled, out-thought and out-played by a bunch of [censored] carrot crunchers. McSweeney and Kerrigan, how crap do they have to play before getting dropped?

 

Well done to Craig Johnson, the only player we had that played with any purpose and any seeming sort of game plan. Do we have a game plan?

[Ozbrit]

Getting a home draw with Exeter is no great shakes, We held them for 80 minutes at their gaffe in the FA cup only a few months back. Looks like your full time professionals are not giving fair value to the club. Nice to see Gazza eating humble pie as well as the meat ones he's legendary for.

[extaffyjim]

I didnt notice him eat any humble pie? And why should he for that matter? We were poor (apparently) and he said that. Its called honesty. And if were getting into pointless one up man ship, you drew with Exeter over 80 minutes, we beat them 2-0 over 80 minutes. Sadly games are not played over 80 minutes. So what is the point of your post?

[GazzaBTFC]

Eating humble pie?..from a person that comments on a game 3,000 miles away...

 

Ya know...I've a good mind to go back to Braintree, collect all those root vegtables that were dumped in the car park and send 'em to you for you to choke on, mate.

[Ozbrit]

hehe Gazza ole mate, yeah its marvelous todays technology, not 3000 but 12000 miles (its back to school for you). BBC Essex loud and clear over the net, reports twice b4 the game, after every goal, half time and twice afterwards. Yeah I got the gist of it even down-under. Mr babbidge of the Beeb said IRON dominated in every department, though he did say, 'Riccay' did actually have a reasonable 15 mins at the start of the second half.. I only hope my other mate Rob Mason was there to witness things.

While I have your attention, are there any chances of you paying that lost bet money you owe me from 2002?

 

Good luck with the Ryman next year. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/yay.gif" alt="" />

[The Lyrical Tarantula]

5-0 C'mon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The chairman of Braintree took great deleight in texting EFM the result

 

C'mon BRAINTREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GazzaBTFC]

Yep, no doubt there are quite a few people having a chuckle in their cornflakes this morning over the result...who cares...Upon review of the NLP this morning St Albans lost 2 - 1 at home and are only out of the relegation zone by goal difference...Ryman League for next season becons and oh, how the Blue Army will chuckle... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

[jl]

Our squad's limitations in terms of size and ability was in my view ruthlessly exposed by what I think is a very strong (literally and metaphorically) Braintree side who are certain to be in the play-offs at least. Braintree were right up for this game and we didn't seem too bothered either way. It genuinely was men against boys out there.

 

Our defence has gifted the opposition a goal (or penalty) in the first ten minutes of each of our last four games. It makes you wonder what they are thinking of when they run out. However in my view our biggest problem is up front. Cus hasn't scored for five games and let's face it, hard worker though he is, Ross never looks like scoring. We need to start making some tough decisions. There are too many players operating in the comfort zone.

 

It is imperative we give ourselves a chance of going up, by finishing in the top five. I concur with the comments above that if we are going to be distracted by big cup games then we are better off not playing them.

 

I have to say I left after the fifth goal went in. The first time I've done that in 8 years of watching Billericay. We have a chance to redeem ourselves next week against Eastleigh. Let's hope we can take it.

 

The only plus points were the performance of Craig Johnston who at least looked as if he was trying, and that Simes won the half time shoot-out competition as their bloke failed to pitch.

 

See those of you making the 450 mile round trip on Tuesday....

[GazzaBTFC]

I think the issue is that we haven't got a big enough squad of exerienced players that can cope with multiple player injuries...therefore when we have a big cup game in the offing, the thought must be, not to get injured and therefore go on cruise control...I'm not making excuses here, just trying to find an explaination. I think a bit of competition for places in the team will be welcome.

 

I would imagine Justin and Matt were not happy and the post match dressing room chat was "fly on the wall" stuff.

 

I know we're all disapointed with yesterdays performance (pig sick would be nearer the truth) but lets all get behind the lads again this Tuesday (no matter what, it's a "jolly boys" day out) and re group for next Saturday. We're the best club in the league with the best support so lets get out there and do the job.

[Simon BTFC]

At the end of the day (cliche alert <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ) it was a league game, and as such we've lost 3 points.... Just 3 points - we shouldn't get carried away by the defeat just we didn't get carried away when we beat Leyton 6-0 or Kingstonian 6-1 or, come to think of it, Braintree earlier in the season. The lads have now got a chance to redeem themselves against Exeter on Tuesday then (and more importantly in my view) against Eastleigh next week. After Eastleigh we'll have played all the top 5 teams (except Yeading) twice, and we've finished one win each against Leyton and Braintree. February should see an easier run of games, and hopefully we can start to close the gap on Yeading.

[Town Statto]

I agree with Andy Walsh that Gothard should have been sent off as he was the last man and the Braintree player was going towards goal when he was brought down.

 

I also agree that we need an experienced striker that will cause the opposition defence problems with their presence. Wareham and Elder seem to lack presence against defenders despite their height.

 

I also think we need a new defender to increase competition for places in the defence.

 

I have agreed to help out on Andy Walsh's website, which is worth a look for all Ricay fans.

www.billericaytownfc.20m.com

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Quote:

Yep, no doubt there are quite a few people having a chuckle in their cornflakes this morning over the result...who cares...Upon review of the NLP this morning St Albans lost 2 - 1 at home and are only out of the relegation zone by goal difference...Ryman League for next season becons and oh, how the Blue Army will chuckle... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Gazza my old china, you need to be in the league to get relegated from it, something you may or may not well find out over the next 5 years.
And we'd go to the Southern League.

If your so confident on us going down would you like a little bet?

[Simon BTFC]

Quote:

And we'd go to the Southern League.

Not necessarily - if you end up in the bottom 3 and Carshalton don't then I reckon you and Redbridge would end up in the good ol Isthmian with Maidenhead / Newport / whoever going into the Southern...

[GazzaBTFC]

Quote:

Quote:

Yep, no doubt there are quite a few people having a chuckle in their cornflakes this morning over the result...who cares...Upon review of the NLP this morning St Albans lost 2 - 1 at home and are only out of the relegation zone by goal difference...Ryman League for next season becons and oh, how the Blue Army will chuckle... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Gazza my old china, you need to be in the league to get relegated from it, something you may or may not well find out over the next 5 years.
And we'd go to the Southern League.

If your so confident on us going down would you like a little bet?

I must say, I'm a little confuesed by that post...If it's okay to chuckle about our misfortune, then I'm sure, we'll chuckle over yours, given the...er...history...Or am I missing the point here...

Never mind, don't explain it, I'm sure in "EMF" world it makes perfect sense...

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Apologies to Simon, the Shoot for a Meal, had to be cancelled for the first time in two seasons of doing it, Shaun went out on the drink Friday and never returned, I spoke to his brother today at the U18's, they have not heard from him since Friday.

 

Simon was presented with the voucher, this can be used upto 6 months at Mr.H / The Venue. (Sunday's only)