Chatham dropped down to third in the table after a lack lustre performance against a Billericay side that appeared to be happy to settle for a draw but ended up getting all three points.

The result will go down as a disappointment for the home side as they could have won the game or at least drawn the game but for two bad penalties.

The game started very slow and the ball seemed to be in the air for a lot of the half and chances at a premium. The first was in the 11^th minute when Matt Macarthur in the area turned and his shot from fifteen yards went over the bar, nine minutes later the same player saw his twenty-yard shot easily saved by Jacob Adams.

Billericay had their first chance in the 28^th minute when Alfie Cerulli saw his eighteen-yard shot tipped over the bar by Nathan Harvey then six minutes later Elliot Long saw his twenty-yard shot go just past the post. The rest of the half saw both sides give the ball away and when the half time whistle went both set of supporters would have wanted better from their side as for the neutral it was a bit of a drab affair.

The second half was not that much better but did explode into action in the latter stages of the game. Chatham seemed to be the team who wanted the three points without playing well, in the 49^th minute player of the month for December Adam Leathers saw his twenty-yard shot go past the post.

Then seven minutes later Tope Fadahunsi battled with Ryan Scott and won the ball and passed into the path of Sam Sene-Richardson but from eight yards shot over the bar. In the 63^rd minute a quick free kick centrally fell to Callum Watts in the area and his shot from eight yards was saved by Harvey’s legs.

Twenty minutes later Long saw his shot saved by Harvey then the fun started when in the 85^th minute Kofi Anokye-Boadi on the right wing saw his cross handled by Jay Porter and a penalty was given, the game saw both set of players argue about the decision and two Billericay players were booked.

The delay helped Adams and Fadahunsi stepped up and his shot to the bottom left-hand corner was saved by Adams. In the fourth minute of added time Billericay got their penalty when a cross into the area saw Charlie Ruff appear to be fouled by Sid Nelson, up stepped Cerulli and his shot went into the bottom left-hand corner to what appeared to be the winner.

In the eighth minute of added on time Fadahunsi was fouled in the area and another penalty was given, this time Anokye-Boadi stepped up but he blasted his shot went well over the bar. Chatham now have a week to get over this result and concentrate on Southend.

        Chatham Town:

1. N.Harvey        2. O.Evans (67)  3. K.Aidoo  4. J.Robins  5. R. Butler  6. S.Nelson  8. K.Moynes

10.  S.Sene-Richardson (70)  14. A.Leathers  19. T.Fadahunsi  35. M.Macarthur (79)

Subs Used: 15. S.Cooper (67)  20. K.Anokye-Boadi (70)  38. J.Dixon (79, Debut)

Subs Not Used: 12. K.Garlinge  26. A.Giles

Bookings: 6.S.Nelson (73)

        Billericay Town:

1.  J.Adams        3. J.Poter 5. T.Davis  6. R.Scott  10. F.Merrifield  11. A. Cerulli

14.  E.Long  16. C.Watts  19. T.Owen  20. C.Ruff (90+5)  24. K.Lewis-Burgess  

Subs Used: 15. O.Parsons (90+5)

Subs Not Used: 2. J.Barnum-Bobb  4. A.Onuchukwu  9. T.Collis  17. T.Miller-Rodney

Bookings:  24. K.Lewis-Burgess (70)  5. T.Davis (86)  20. C.Ruff (86)  1. J.Adams (87)

 Referee: Mr S.Finnigan

Assistants: Mr M.Roberts & Mr A.Khaldi

Att: 1497