Billericay Town (A) - 27th April 2024

By Josh Cole

The final game of the league season is here, as we travel to Essex to take on Billericay Town!

Last time out we beat Wingate & Finchley, doing our part to give us a chance of staying up. You can read the full match report from that game by clicking here.

With Cheshunt winning on Tuesday, unfortunately our relegation is all but confirmed with the +14 better goal-difference that Cheshunt have. You can read a message from the board following that result by clicking here.

OPPONENTS’ SEASON SO FAR:

Billericay still have it all to play for on the final day as they sit 6th, only outside of the playoffs by three points, but with better goal-difference than Horsham and Wingate & Finchley, the Town need a win. A lot of change occurred over the summer, with the biggest being a change of manager, with Gary McCann taking the helm at New Lodge. Three 1-0 wins from the first three games of the season set the tone that Billericay should not be discounted from the playoff race. Their next five games saw two wins, two losses and a draw with another two clean sheets in that batch. After their heartbreak loss in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round to Sheppey United, they bounced back going unbeaten in four games which included Hastings, Enfield and Chatham who were directly around them. Two away losses to Folkestone and Hashtag gave the ‘Gate some confidence but at Hartsdown Park, it was Billericay who took all three points, winning 1-3. They followed up that win against us with another win, this time against Carshalton but then an away loss to Wingate & Finchley and a loss to bottom of the table Haringey was a shock. The Blues were keen to put that loss to Haringey behind them, and in the best way possible, they went six games unbeaten winning five of them and drawing to Hornchurch. But at the end of January, the slump started. In a 12-game period going from the 27th of January to the 23rd of March, Billericay only manged two wins and one draw, losing the rest. Some key losses include a 2-4 home defeat to local rivals Hashtag United, and a 6-3 away defeat to promotion rivals Chatham Town. Slipping out of the playoffs, Billericay searched for a way back into the hunt. Since that losing streak, they have won their last five games, which has given them a last chance saloon to make the playoffs on Saturday, providing other results go their way.

You can view the full league table by clicking here.

LAST FIVE: BILLERICAY

Win vs Dulwich Hamlet, away (1-2) League

Win vs Concord Rangers, home (2-0) League

Win vs Haringey Borough, away (0-6) League

Win vs Cheshunt, home (2-1) League

Win vs Carshalton, away (1-2) League

LAST FIVE: MARGATE

Draw vs Cray Wanderers, home (1-1) League

Win vs Kingstonian, away (1-3) League

Win vs Potters Bar, away (2-3) League

Loss vs Hornchurch, home (0-1) League

Win vs Wingate & Finchley, home (2-1) League

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

There are ten meetings dating back to December 2013 with Billericay dominating the record with six wins compared to the ‘Gate’s two, with two more ending in draws.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

The referee is Benjamin Bowles, with his two assistants being Carl Beer and Kvin Harrington.

Not able to make the trip to Essex tomorrow? You can follow all the action from the final day of the season by heading over to our official X account, @Margate_fc, for live match updates commencing from 2:15pm!

STADIUM ADDRESS:

BLUNTS WALL ROAD

BILLERICAY

CM12 9SA

UP THE ‘GATE

More news