MATCH REPORT - Dartford - 11/11/25

Billericay Town 3 (Johnson 45+5, Long 56, 90+3) – Dartford 1 (Carter 9)

Elliot Long’s brace ensured Billericay Town made it seven points from nine at home against Kent opposition in the past week, as Danny Scopes’ side overcame a fiery Dartford under the New Lodge lights in a game that saw both teams reduced to ten men.

Long’s double came after Leyton Orient loanee Dan Carter had given the visitors an early lead, but a spirited fightback led by captain Matt Johnson just before half-time turned the game in Billericay’s favour. The equaliser arrived shortly after Dartford right-back Sam Okoye was sent off late in the first half, setting the tone for a strong second-half display from the Blues.

The visitors started brightly and created the first significant chance inside two minutes when Jez Pinder’s free kick dipped just over the bar. Alfie Cerulli responded for the hosts with a low effort that was comfortably held by Jonny Henly, but moments later Dartford struck first. Carter rode a couple of challenges before firing past Sam Donkin from the edge of the box with less than ten minutes played.

Jack Evans almost produced an immediate response, but like Cerulli, he could only find the gloves of Henly from close range. Pinder then came within inches of doubling Dartford’s advantage with a superb 25-yard free kick that rattled the crossbar, a huge let-off for Scopes’ men.

That proved to be the Darts’ last meaningful chance of the half as Ricay began to dictate play after the half-hour mark in search of an equaliser. Liam Nash saw an effort from the edge of the area deflected over, and Johnson headed wide from the resulting corner. Moments later, Freddie Hockey broke through on goal but was denied by Henly’s legs.

The turning point arrived six minutes before the interval when Okoye, already booked, lunged into a late challenge on Long, leaving referee Oliver Kaya with no choice but to show a second yellow card.

Lifted by the momentum shift, Billericay pushed forward and found the equaliser in the fifth minute of added time. Long’s cross from the right found Johnson at the back post, and the skipper took a touch before calmly slotting home to level the scores before the break.

With a man advantage, the Blues came out flying in the second half and almost went ahead when Cerulli’s goalbound strike was brilliantly headed over by Michael Olarewaju. The pressure soon told, and Long grabbed his first of the night on 56 minutes.

Neat interplay between Teddy Collis and Nash sent the latter through on goal, and although he was brought down, the loose ball slipped past Henly and fell kindly for Long to finish from close range.

Both managers turned to their benches in search of a late swing in momentum, and the game took another twist 25 minutes from time when Billericay right-back Jazzi Barnum-Bobb received a second yellow card, reducing both sides to ten for the final stages.

Despite the setback, it was the Blues who continued to control proceedings. Johnson was denied nine minutes from time by another excellent block from Olarewaju, but the result was sealed three minutes into stoppage time when Long drove forward and picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box to send New Lodge into pandemonium.

Dartford kept pressing until the end, and Olarewaju almost grabbed a consolation with a close-range header, but Donkin was equal to it as Ricay extended their unbeaten home league run to six games.

Billericay Town: Donkin; Barnum-Bobb, Davis (Parsons 62), Johnson, Porter; Miller-Rodney, Evans; Nash, Long, Cerulli (Lewis-Burgess 72); Hockey (Collis 40)

Subs not used: Owen, Steward

Dartford: Henly; Okoye, Whitefield, Olarewaju, Tennent; Pinder (Carruthers 86), Bland; Box (S. Smith 52), Carter, Jones; D. Smith (Dsane 61)

Subs not used: Olopade, Atkins

Referee: Oliver Kaya

Attendance: 745