Under-21s hit four at Billericay

A Yago Santiago brace, as well as goals from Jamie Donley and Max Robson, saw our Under-21s to a commanding 4-1 win over Billericay Town at New Lodge on Saturday evening.

Santiago got us underway, striking with just 11 minutes on the clock before the hosts levelled midway through the first half via Bradley Stevenson’s lobbed finish. Before the interval though, our lead was restored with Santiago grabbing his second of the night and, from there, we never looked back.

On 66 minutes, Donley got on the scoresheet, slotting home our third, before Robson completed the scoring, heading home seven minutes later, as our Development Squad wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a win.

The game followed much of the same pattern that saw us defeat Bromley 2-0 on Wednesday night. The hosts started brightly but, ultimately, our quality and clinical finishing prevailed.

In the opening exchanges, it was very much an even contest. Both sides were finding their way into dangerous areas – quite notably Billericay’s John Ufuah on the left-flank, who produced a piece of solo magic on 10 minutes to dance his way forward and the box, only for his strike to be denied by Marqes Muir, who stood firm and blocked.

Moments after that chance though, it was us who took the lead as Santiago converted on 11 minutes. That advantage, however, was not to last as 12 minutes later, Stevenson lobbed home from the right channel to restore parity. Town could have then taken the lead on 35 minutes as Ufuah continued to threaten, cutting in from the right before curling towards goal. Josh Keeley, however, was in place to claim.

That was an opportunity the hosts would have rued wasting as six minutes later, the attacking instincts of Santiago saw us retake the lead – the winger alive to a misplaced pass at the back before making his way into the box and finding the target once more.

Before the break, 'Ricay had two opportunities to level once more but neither Montel Agyemang, who curled over the bar from 25 yards, or Ufuah, who hit a free-kick from a similar distance, could trouble Keeley. Then, on the hour mark, the latter did go on to test Keeley as he sprung the offside trap, but our man between the sticks was alive to the danger, rushing out before denying the forward.

That was the last real chance of note that our hosts had in the game as we started to really take control of the game as we headed into the final 30 minutes. And that was notable come the 61st minute as Roshaun Mathurin stung the palms of substitute goalkeeper Emmanuel Nwosu from the edge of the box.

Little under five minutes later, we then made our control of the match count as we extended our lead. Santiago turned creator, doing well through the middle before releasing Donley in the box and the striker did the rest, getting the ball out of his feet before rolling home. Then, just seven minutes later, we had our fourth and final goal of the evening as Maksim Paskotsi clipped the ball into the six-yard box which, as it caused confusion between goalkeeper and defence, Robson profited, leaping to nod the loose ball home.

Match data

Goals: Billericay – Stevenson 23; Spurs – Santiago 11, 41, Donley 66, Robson 73

Referee: Rob Clausen

Venue: New Lodge

Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees