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CAFC vs Billericay Town FC – Preview

Carshalton Athletic face off against Billericay Town in the Isthmian Premier Division on Saturday at Colston Avenue.

Billericay Town

Billericay Town’s 2024/25 campaign was one of high drama, fluctuating fortunes, and ultimately, bitter disappointment. Over the course of 52 matches, Gary McCann’s side played themselves into the heart of the Isthmian Premier Division title race, collected silverware in the form of the Velocity Cup, and fell agonisingly short of promotion on the final day—both in the league and subsequently in the playoffs.

The Blues opened the season with promise, going unbeaten in their first ten league fixtures and briefly topping the table by October. Results in the early part of the campaign were shaped by a blend of clinical attacking play from the likes of Moses Emmanuel, Ashley Nzala, and Femi Akinwande, and moments of late drama—both for and against them.

Momentum dipped mid-season, particularly across November and December, with injuries, red cards, and a hectic fixture list taking their toll. Notably, Billericay lost their unbeaten run at Colston Avenue in a memorable 4-3 defeat to Carshalton Athletic, despite leading 3-1 at half-time. It was one of several examples throughout the season where game management proved a costly Achilles’ heel.

Akinwande hit form after the turn of the year, scoring multiple hat-tricks, including a decisive treble in a 3-2 win over Carshalton at New Lodge in February. That result briefly put the Blues back on top of the league. Their attacking style—characterised by aggressive wing play, forward-thinking full-backs, and direct movement through the centre—yielded several high-scoring encounters but also left them vulnerable in key moments.

Billericay ultimately finished level on points with eventual champions Horsham but were edged out on goal difference after both sides won on the final day. Their tally of 89 points was not enough to secure automatic promotion, despite a 4-2 comeback win over Cheshunt in front of over 3,000 fans.

In the playoffs, McCann’s side hosted Dover Athletic in a tense semi-final that looked to be going their way after Akinwande’s extra-time opener. But two late free kicks from Alfie Matthews turned the tie, sealing a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat and ending Billericay’s promotion bid.

While the season ended in frustration, the Blues demonstrated resilience and attacking threat throughout, finishing among the top scorers in the division. With a strong core of experienced players and a sizable following, they remain one of the teams expected to challenge again in 2025/26.

This campaign followed a steady rebuild for Billericay. After lifting the Bostik Premier title in 2017/18, alongside winning both the Essex Senior Cup and the Velocity Cup, they earned promotion to the National League South. A strong eighth-place finish in their debut NLS season marked them as a force, but relegation in 2021/22 after two COVID-hit years saw the club drop back to step three.

A 10th-place finish in 2022/23 was underwhelming by their standards, but they improved significantly the following season to finish sixth in 2023/24, just missing the play-offs. In 2024/25, they looked primed for promotion but came up short once again—though not without reaffirming their status as perennial challengers at this level.

Team News

Ahead of their 2025/26 campaign, Billericay Town retained much of the core that powered their title push the previous season, while also freshening up key areas of the squad. Influential midfielder Tyrell Miller-Rodney extended his stay at New Lodge, providing continued leadership both on and off the pitch, while forward Femi Akinwande, who scored 16 goals after rejoining in late November, was confirmed for another season following his return to form and fan-favourite status.

In defence, Tommy Davis and Matt Johnson, who had struck up a solid centre-back pairing during the closing stages of the previous season (making 39 appearances each), were both retained, along with consistent full-back Jay Porter, entering his third season with the Blues.

Sam Donkin, who was voted the club’s Supporters’ Player of the Season and conceded the second-fewest goals in the division, remained first choice in goal. Meanwhile, young midfielders Charlie Panton and Ben Steward—both regulars during 2024/25—also committed to another year.

Billericay added depth and experience with several new signings. Former Chelmsford City and St. Vincent & the Grenadines international Jazzi Barnum-Bobb arrived to strengthen the back line, bringing pedigree from spells at Wrexham, Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet. In midfield, the Blues brought in Tyrese Owen, a former Carshalton Athletic player who returned to the Isthmian scene following time abroad and spells at Hemel Hempstead and Aveley.

Forward options were bolstered by the signing of Troy Howard, who had impressed for Sittingbourne in the Isthmian South East Division with 15 goals and 16 assists. Billericay also confirmed the permanent arrival of Alfie Cerulli from Hemel Hempstead Town. Cerulli had previously enjoyed a successful spell at New Lodge, netting 23 times in 51 appearances before suffering an injury last March during his loan return. He was back fit ahead of the new campaign.

Further midfield strength came in the form of Jack Evans, a former Gillingham youth product and ex-Chatham Town captain, while striker Frankie Merrifield—a vital part of Billericay’s attacking arsenal in the run-in—also remained at the club.

However, there were several notable departures. Jack Paxman, a creative presence in midfield, signed for Welling United, while experienced forwards Moses Emmanuel and Ade Azeez also moved on. Emmanuel, who scored his 50th Billericay goal in a draw at Lewes, brought an end to a prolific spell in blue. Decarrey Sheriff and Ashley Nzala, who contributed nearly 100 combined appearances across the frontline last season, also departed.

Defensive exits included Montel McKenzie, scorer of a vital free-kick away at Dover, and Aron Pollock, while Ansu Janneh, Richard Asamoah, and several others also left as part of the summer rebuild.

With a restructured squad and strong continuity in key areas, Billericay entered the new season once again among the favourites for promotion—while Carshalton knew from experience that the Blues remained a dangerous and resilient opponent.

Pre-Match Analysis

Billericay Town arrive at Colston Avenue as one of the standout sides from last season’s Isthmian Premier Division campaign, having combined defensive solidity with attacking firepower throughout 2024–25.

The Essex outfit boasted the second-best defensive record in the division, conceding just 42 goals across the season—bettered only by eventual champions Horsham, who shipped 40. At the other end, they were just as potent, joint-top scorers with 83 goals, again matching Horsham in that department.

That balance of efficiency at both ends of the pitch made Billericay one of the toughest opponents in the league. They finished the regular season in second place, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion before suffering play-off heartbreak against Dover Athletic in extra time. It was a bitter end to a campaign in which they had won their final five league games, including a 3-2 victory over Carshalton in late February—powered by a hat-trick from Femi Akinwande.

Their summer preparations have been equally eye-catching. Billericay recorded an impressive pre-season victory over National League South side Boreham Wood, as well as a commanding win over Essex Senior League champions Hutton—results that suggest they are already in strong form heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

With one of the division’s most dangerous forward lines and a defence that rarely gives much away, Billericay remain one of the title favourites again this season—making this a real early test for the Robins.

Key Player

Bradley Williams will be a familiar face to Carshalton supporters, having risen through the ranks at Colston Avenue and played a key role in the Robins’ recent successes. The 23-year-old made over 130 appearances for the club, captaining the side on multiple occasions and demonstrating impressive versatility—equally adept at centre-back, full-back, or in midfield.

His standout 2023/24 season, which included 16 goals from midfield, earned him a move to National League South outfit Chelmsford City last summer. Williams impressed during a pre-season trial at Sutton United—featuring in a friendly against Brentford B—before joining the Clarets.

In January, he returned to the Isthmian Premier with Billericay Town, and has quickly made his mark. By the end of February, he had already scored four goals for the Blues and re-established himself as a key presence in Gary McCann’s promotion-chasing side.

Given his pedigree, athleticism, and eye for goal, Williams will be one to watch closely when the Robins face Billericay—especially given his history with the club and tendency to perform on big occasions.

The Gaffer

Before Billericay, Gary McCann’s most recent spell was as manager of NLS side Hampton & Richmond Borough, where he spent four years in charge and led them to a number of FA Cup first-round ties. McCann was most notably at the helm of Hendon for 13 years; he was a mainstay in north London. He came agonisingly close to a playoff place in the 2019/20 season in the NLS but was frustratingly denied on a points-per-game basis, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Match Details

Date: Saturday, 16 August, 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 3:00 pm
Admission: Buy Tickets Here