Whites stopped a run of two disappointing defeats with a much-improved performance, and were unlucky not to hold on for a win against one of the top sides in the league. Billericay had won their previous four games, and with their games in hand could mount a championship challenge, so a draw was a fairly good outcome.

Steve Browne kept faith with basically the same side that lost to Slough the week before, with Stuart Maynard taking Craig Wilkins’ place after his long-term injury.

Whites were first out of the blocks, and with only three minutes gone, a superb run by Dean Palmer set up Victor Renner, who unfortunately shot just wide.

The Whites’ luck did seem to change though with five minutes on the clock. Billericay forward Neil Cousins was through on goal, and Whites keeper Dominique Jean-Zepharin seemingly took him out on the edge of the area. However, with Lee Shearer in close pursuit, the referee decided that the challenge only warranted a yellow card, to the delight of the Dover fans.

From the free kick, Kieran Gallagher hit a quick one past Jean-Zepharin and into the net, however with the referee not ready, he was forced to take it again and Braithwaite cleared the danger the second time around.

Billericay continued to have the majority of the possession, without creating many clear-cut chances. It was Nathan Elder who spurned their best chance, he was clean through on goal, but Jean-Zepharin did well to stop his fierce shot.

Jean-Zepharin was again tested, when he stole the ball bravely off the toes of Neil Cousins, before the Whites became more of an attacking force. Carruthers did well down the right, and supplied a superb trademark cross to the penalty spot, but Victor Renner headed over when he should have done better.

A good ball through the defence by Braithwaite also caused the Billericay defence problems, after 35 minutes. The ever-dangerous Paul Armstrong took it on, but shot wide.

With half time rapidly approaching, Whites fans could not believe that they did not go into the interval in the lead. A glancing header from Renner went inches wide of the post from a Maynard free kick, and then a minute later, Armstrong cut in from the touchline and shot marginally wide past the opposite post.

But the best chance came after 44 minutes. Renner was through on goal, and his shot was well saved by Billericay keeper Paul Gothard, and then Armstrong somehow hit the bar with his rebound effort.

The second period did not begin with the same vigour as the first half, and it wasn’t until the hour mark when the game really kicked into life, when the Whites took the lead. The referee gave a free kick against Pat Sappleton, and Maynard delivered to the back post. When Gothard and everyone else mis-judged its flight, it was left to Lee Shearer to poke home into an empty net at the back post.

Unfortunately, the goal kicked Billericay into life, and they pushed for the equaliser. And with fifteen minutes to go, it arrived. Shane Hamshare, who had only been on the pitch three minutes, was out muscled down the left wing, and Billericay captain Jamie Dormer shot well past Jean-Zepharin.

The visitors thought they had scored the winner with five minutes remaining, when Neil Cousins turned the ball home, but he was adjudged to have been offside. However, the final chance fell to Dean Palmer following a flick by Renner, but he completely missed the ball at the vital moment and the chance went begging.

Before the match a point would have been a good result against one of the form sides, but after taking the lead it was a bit disappointing. Whites looked a lot stronger defensively this week, and played more like a Ryman side by defending in numbers, especially in the first half. But to get out of our current position we need to start winning games, though on the evidence of this performance, Steve Browne seems to be getting it right, so let’s hope that the wins start to arrive soon.