MATCH REPORT - Hashtag United - 25/11/25

Hashtag United 4 (Smith 17, Rusoke 55, Kouassi 64, Sach 73) – Billericay Town 0

Hashtag United produced a four-star performance to knock out holders Billericay Town in the third round of the Velocity Cup. After a lively opening from a much-changed Ricay side, the Tags grew into the contest and ultimately put Danny Scopes’ men to the sword, with goals from Josh Rusoke, Evans Kouassi and Bradley Sach adding to Jermaine Anderson’s early strike.

The Tags carved out the first opening inside five minutes when Praise Ogbebor somehow failed to turn in Rusoke’s pinpoint cross from close range.

Billericay responded well and began to control the early exchanges, with Tyrese Owen drawing a routine stop from Jack Giddens before 16-year-old Joe Davis saw a deflected effort come back off the woodwork after a fine solo run. Moments later, Teddy Collis was denied superbly by Giddens from point-blank range as the Blues searched for the opener.

The end-to-end tempo continued and Ogbebor forced Dondre Abraham into his first save of the evening, but the hosts struck first on 17 minutes. Rusoke again caused problems down the left and his teasing delivery was turned home by Smith from five yards.

Ricay almost hit back instantly. Keon Lewis-Burgess delivered a brilliant cross from the right for debutant Daniel Izekor, who could only glance his header wide with the goal at his mercy. Izekor then flashed another effort past the post, but Hashtag finished the half strongly, with Abraham keeping out Wells and Sach to keep the deficit to one at the interval.

The second half began scrappily, but Hashtag soon found their rhythm and doubled their lead in unusual fashion. Rusoke’s looping cross from the left drifted over Abraham and dropped into the far corner to make it 2-0.

From there the game ran away from Billericay. Kouassi, lively throughout, cut inside on 64 minutes and curled a superb effort beyond Abraham for the third. Ricay struggled to create anything clear-cut after the break, though captain Ryan Scott headed narrowly wide from a corner as they chased a route back into the tie.

Hashtag then had a golden chance to extend their lead when Ollie Parsons was penalised for handball, but Abraham produced a stunning save to keep out Sach’s penalty. The Tags striker responded three minutes later though, driving in a low effort from the edge of the box to complete the scoring on 73 minutes.

Jay Devereux’s side managed the closing stages comfortably, securing their place in the last sixteen and bringing Billericay’s defence of the Velocity Cup to an early end.

Hashtag United: Giddens; Ring (Anderson 78), Smith (Wilson 70), Wells, Rusoke; Wooldridge, Cornhill (Dickson 78), Brown (May-Parrott 87); Ogbebor, Sach, Kouassi (Brissett 64)

Subs not used: N/A

Billericay Town: Abraham; Lewis-Burgess, Scott, Parsons, Barnum-Bobb; Steward, Owen; Collis (Nash 60), Long (Williams 70), Davis; Izekor

Subs not used: Porter, Johnson, Evans

Referee: Liam Botten

Attendance: 150

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