Grays Athletic 2–1 Billericay Town
From Mill Field
Ryman League Cup semi-final
GRAYS Athletic booked their place in the Ryman League Cup final after a controversial penalty saw them edge past Billericay Town at Mill Field.
Joel Nouble scored the winner from the spot after a tedious first 45 minutes. But a terrific second half saw Grays take the lead before Town equalised, perhaps against the run of play.
That left Grays the chance to snatch the winner from the spot and send them into the final against Hendon.
This was Grays’ first test outside of Ryman One North so far this term – having knocked out Tilbury, Barkingside, Cheshunt and AFC Sudbury to date.
Billericay had beaten Great Wakering Rovers, Brentwood, AFC Hornchurch and Whyteleafe in their march to the last four and it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams.
Captain Richard Halle diverted a header wide of the far post but it was his defensive partner Ryan Scott who had the best chance of an edgy first period.
A deep free-kick from former Grays man Glenn Poole was flicked on and Scott headed at goal only for Gough to spread himself and make the save.
Poole himself came close soon after as he drove an effort wide from the middle of the penalty area, but that was the best of the first-half.
Thankfully, the game sparked into life in the second-half and it was Grays who opened the scoring.
A superb right-wing delivery from Jey Siva cut the Town defence in half and Jay Leader headed down and past a static Joe Wright.
Grays were in the ascendency but only moments later Town were level. A long ball from Ryan Scott caused chaos in the Grays defence and Manny Parry could only head past his own goalkeeper and into the path of Affy Obafemi, who slotted into an empty net.
From 1-0 down, Town should have been 2-1 up within seconds. 12-goal Rowan Liburd was played in and the striker shot comfortably wide as Gough came out of his goal.
The game was ebbing and flowing, and it was Grays who came close next. A deep cross from substitute Kwesi Marfo was met by Dumebi Dumaka but the striker saw his effort bounce off the far post with Wright beaten.
The match was evenly poised but, with six minutes to go, the game turned in the home sides favour.
Joe Wright came out to punch the ball but, in a crowd of bodies, players hit the deck and the referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Joel Nouble, who had been on the edges of the game, and he sent Wright the wrong way.
Grays Athletic: Gough, Morrison-Derbyshire, Siva, Leader, Parry, Bentley, Wilson (Marfo), Beaney, Dumaka, Nouble, Carlos (Ferguson)
Billericay Town: Wright, Sheehan, Melaugh, Edwards, Halle, Scott, Obafemi, Poole, Sappleton, Liburd (Baker), Dunne (Farrell)
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