One of the things I was looking forward to about our return to the Premier Division was the higher standard of refereeing. Unfortunately it seems my hopes were misplaced, as this match with Billericay was decided by one poor decision. The anticipated return to Buckingham Road of George Borg also never materialised, as he didn't show for the match. The nation-wide 1 minute silence was impecable observed by everyone inside the ground before the match.
Steve Cordery had rung the changes since the St. Albans game, with fans favourite Adam Wheeler returning between the sticks, and Sam Sloma getting his first start in a Ducks shirt. Danny Gordon came in for the injured Scott Honeyball and Roni Joe and Dwight Marshall replaced Adam Campion and Craig Maskell.
The game started brightly for the Ducks, with a Kezie Ibe hook easily held by the visitors keeper Jerome John. This was as we got though, as Billericay quickly started to dominate proceedings, with their physical dominance showing all over the pitch. On 4 minutes Billericay fashioned their first chance, as the tricky Mark Graham delivered a superb cross, which was headed over by Martin Carthy.
On 8 minutes all hell broke lost amongst Ducks fans, as Billericay took the lead. A free-kick was incorrectly awarded to Billericay just inside the Ducks half. What followed can only be described as scandelous refereeing. The Ref blew his whistle to call the Aylesbury player involved over for a word. Whilst this was going on, Billericay decided to take the free-kick, 20 yards further up the pitch, and on the opposite touchline. The ball was eventually crossed, and sent into the Aylesbury net by the hapless Steve McGrath, although the waiting forwards would have netted the ball anyway. Much to the fury of the Ducks bench, fans, directors, staff, and anyone else who cared, the referee decided that the goal was perfectly legal.
By this point the Ducks couldn't string two passes together, and Billericay were starving United of the ball. Somehow, the Ducks continued to create some half-chances, as Sloma hit a long-shot over, and Greg Williams arrived late to head a Danny Gordon chip just over.
The Ducks improved slightly towards the end of the half, with Kezie Ibe going close with a well struck effort, which went just wide. Billericay also had a good chance, with Scott Forrester shooting straight at Wheeler, with the Ducks defence motionless.
Half time came, and brought with it relief at only being a goal down, after being outplayed for most of the half. At this point though, it looked like being a long second half!
The second half looked an altogether different story, as the team looked confident they could overturn the deficit. Within 5 minutes the Ducks were on the offensive, as McGrath headed just over from a Campion free-kick.
Craig Maskell replaced the tiring Marshall in the 58th minute, but couldn't really get in the game. Yet again, he was forced to drop into midfield to receive the ball, which left Kezie Ibe isolated up front. For a hard working forward this would not be too much of a problem, but Ibe doesn't seem willing to chase balls as Baggy would, and far too often found himself shut out by the Town defence.
On 23 minutes Kezie Ibe showed his class with a delightful drag-back to wrongfoot the Town backline, before stabbing the ball wide. The move summed up Ibe nicely - full of skill, but not the best finisher. He really should of scored. Steve Cordery made his final change on 74 minutes, bringing on Martin Carter for the tireless Risbridger.
The Ducks kept searching for the equaliser, with Sam Sloma and Martin Carter having late chances. Carter's in particular summed up the Ducks afternoon, as he mis-hit his shot from 4 yards.
As with the Basingstoke game, if the Ducks play like they did in the first half, then it will be a long, hard winter. Yet if they keep up the progress shown in the second half of that game, and today, then things will get better...
