MATCH REPORT - Hashtag United - 03/01/26

Billericay Town 1 (Cerulli 53) – Hashtag United 2 (Cornhill 31, May-Parrott 61)

Luke May-Parrott’s superb second-half curler proved decisive as Hashtag United secured Essex bragging rights with a hard-fought victory over Billericay Town on a freezing January afternoon at New Lodge. Despite an audacious overhead kick from Alfie Cerulli drawing the hosts level early in the second half, May-Parrott struck just after the hour to earn the Tags a vital three points in their battle to escape the drop zone.

Billericay began on the front foot and nearly made the perfect start inside five minutes when Cerulli bent an effort narrowly wide of the post. Elliot Long then forced Jack Giddens into his first save of the afternoon, before the Hashtag goalkeeper produced a stunning reaction stop to deny Ollie Parsons from close range on 15 minutes.

Although the Blues controlled much of the early play, Hashtag gradually grew into the contest. Nathan Wilson fired an effort over from the edge of the box on 27 minutes, but the visitors made no mistake five minutes later. From Josh Rusoke’s corner, captain Max Cornhill rose highest to power a header beyond Sam Donkin and give the Tags the lead.

Charlie Ruff flashed a shot wide as Billericay searched for an immediate response, but it was Hashtag who finished the half strongly. May-Parrott tested Donkin twice in quick succession, and the visitors thought they had doubled their advantage when Evans Kouassi found the net, only for the assistant’s flag to rule the goal out. Nonetheless, Hashtag went into the break a goal to the good.

Billericay responded positively after the restart and were level within eight minutes, as Jay Porter’s cross was controlled by Cerulli, who produced an emphatic overhead kick to pick out the bottom corner and spark celebrations among the home support.

The Blues were now firmly on top and came agonisingly close to taking the lead moments later when Ruff’s strike from the edge of the area crashed against the crossbar. However, the visitors struck against the run of play, as just after the hour mark a swift Hashtag counter attack saw Rusoke release May-Parrott down the left, and the forward cut inside before curling a magnificent effort into the top corner to restore the visitors’ lead.

Kouassi soon tested Donkin again, while Billericay responded through Tyrell Miller-Rodney, though Giddens was largely untroubled. The Hashtag keeper was eventually called into action again late on, clawing away Parsons’ teasing cross that threatened to dip into the far corner as the clock ticked down.

As the match entered six minutes of added time, Billericay threw everything forward and came desperately close to snatching a point. Heroic last-ditch defending from the Tags kept out a chaotic goalmouth scramble involving Liam Nash and Tyrese Owen, both denied on the line.

Owen then thought he had scored a dramatic 97th-minute equaliser, only for the referee to rule it out for a handball by Frankie Merrifield in the build-up, allowing Hashtag to cling on to all three points.

The defeat marks a second successive loss against Essex rivals for Billericay, who remain 11th, while Hashtag move level on points with Cheshunt as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

Billericay Town: Donkin; Lewis-Burgess, Scott, Parsons, Porter; Miller-Rodney (Owen 83), Watts; Long (Nash 71), Ruff, Cerulli (Benton 73); Merrifield

Subs not used: Barnum-Bobb, Davis

Hashtag United: Giddens; Smith, Wells, Wilson; Rusoke, Christou, Cornhill, Wooldridge (Ayoola 90); Kouassi (Brown 74), May-Parrott, Ogbebor (Park 64)

Subs not used: Brissett, Bakaar

Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant

Attendance: 1,381

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