Report

Billingham Town’s last game of the season saw a game against second placed Brinkburn in which Billingham just had to avoid defeat to win the league, with the opposition not only looking to spoil the party, but to keep their own title aspirations alive. Unfortunately, just as in last week’s game Billingham got off to the worst possible start and conceded a goal within two minutes of kick off. A free kick into the box was not dealt with and a Brinkburn player was given the freedom to pick his spot from ten yards past Liam Jordan’s despairing dive. However, one of the many characteristics shown by Billingham this season is a steely determination and they refused to let that early set-back knock their confidence. Ben Hughes managed to get a head on Liam French’s headed clearance but was unable to generate enough power to trouble the keeper. Moments later, Liam Ferguson drove down the right but his cross/shot went straight into the keeper’s arms. Some more good work down the right saw Billingham win their first corner and from the resultant kick, Dominic Sheffield saw his header at the back post cleared off the line. Then having won a free kick on the left hand side, Lucas Connor delivered a quality ball into the box which picked out Ben Hughes but his volleyed effort cleared the bar. Despite the overall territorial advantage it appeared Billingham were just not getting the bounce of the ball and they were nearly punished after a quick Brinkburn break down the left saw the forward cut inside and strike a low shot which Liam Jordan saved well. Billingham were soon back in Brinkburn’s half and from John Smith’s flicked header, Jackson Wardell controlled, swivelled and volleyed in one movement and saw the keeper collect the ball at the second attempt. Billingham then created their best chance of the game after good work from Luke Metcalf saw Jackson Wardell pick up the ball and play a beautifully weighted pass onto Ben Hughes’s run. He touched the ball round the keeper and found himself to the left side of the goal with a covering defender in front of him. He rolled the ball across the six yard box to Liam Ferguson whose shot was somehow blocked by a combination of another defender and keeper. Billingham continued to play the more patient build up against Brinkburn’s quick counter attacking style and this almost paid off when a move starting with Lucas Connor and involving Ben Hughes and Jackson Wardell, saw the ball find its way to Lee Todd and after cutting inside his marker he saw his long range effort fly just over the bar. In a competitive first half in which Billingham had been unlucky not to be on at least level terms, the message was to keep positive and carry on playing in the same way and they would get their rewards.

With no changes at half time, Billingham started the second half by creating another golden opportunity to draw level. Ben Hughes managed to work the ball into the box and his shot was only parried by the keeper and somehow the Brinkburn defence managed to get blocks on follow up shots from both Liam Ferguson and Jackson Wardell to see the ball clear. Billingham then had a huge let off when a quick break through the centre saw two Brinkburn players beat the offside trap, but fortunately for Billingham they did not show the composure to use the numerical advantage, and a first time shot slid the wrong side of the post for the visitors. This was a rare error for Billingham’s back line which again saw Sam Timothy and Dominic Sheffield in commanding form in the centre with Lucas Connor and Liam French on the flanks showing almost perfect balance between defensive duties and wide attacking play. As the game progressed, Liam Ferguson was starting to see more space down the right hand side and he wasted no time in starting to exploit this. After beating two players he released John Smith whose cross from the byline picked out Jackson Wardell but he was unlucky to see the ball bounce away from him. Liam Ferguson again beat two players and got to the byline himself before seeing his cross blocked for a corner. Minutes later, it was Luke Metcalf who played a precise pass down the right to split the defence and Liam Ferguson’s cross this time picked out Ben Hughes, but again the ball just did not fall for Billingham’s top scorer and the chance was gone. Knowing a defeat would leave the fate of the league title in Brinkburn’s hands Billingham then made a substitution in an attempt to bring a slightly more attacking threat from midfield. Michael McGee was brought on for Lee Todd, who had contributed significantly to Billingham’s solid midfield. Billingham continued to push forward and another ball across the box was cleared from Liam Ferguson’s toes as he shaped to shoot. Billingham were now seemingly permanently camped in Brinkburn’s half with four or five corners within a short space of time. The first resulted in Dominic Sheffield again seeing a header cleared off the line, with the next few being cleared without troubling the Brinkburn goal. The final corner of this period saw Ben Hughes escape his marker but direct his header from ten yards just wide. However, Billingham’s persistence finally paid off in a final mad ten minutes when firstly they won a throw on the right hand side ten yards up from the byline. From the throw in the ball was flicked onto Jackson Wardell and he turned and put the ball across the box where Michael McGee showed his goal poaching instincts to lash the ball into the roof of the net. A couple of minutes later, Liam Jordan showed his worth to the side when another ball over the top saw Brinkburn forwards and Billingham defenders converging but he judged the situation perfectly and beat everyone to the ball to provide the block and bravely collect the ball at the second attempt. Billingham were then reduced to ten men when Josh Clark was set to replace Ben Hughes. Having already received a yellow for apparent dissent he was shown a second yellow for kicking the ball away on the touchline as he left the field, thinking there was another ball on the field. Clearly sensing this was their chance Brinkburn started to put pressure on Billingham’s back line but, as throughout the match, they defended heroically. And with only minutes remaining, Billingham scored the winner which could not be denied was fully deserved. Having won a free kick near the half way line, Lucas Connor’s delivery saw Michael McGee move into space and letting the ball bounce once, he struck a perfect volley across the keeper and into the net off the right hand post. The final whistle moments later confirmed Billingham as League Champions!