FA Cup - fourth round qualifying replay
Taunton Town 0, Billericay Town 1

TAUNTON Town's FA Cup run ended one game short of the first round proper, as National League South leaders Billericay Town won by a single goal at the Viridor Stadium.

The Peacocks matched their visitors for large spells in the game, roared on by a mammoth crowd of 1,582, but Sam Deering's strike shortly before half time proved decisive.

Pierce Mitchell and Ryan Brett were back in the Taunton side after missing Saturday's 2-2 draw between the sides, while former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder Jamie O'Hara started for the visitors.

After an uneventful first 10 minutes, the hosts began to enjoy a measure of control over proceedings, with Brett firing over the top and Matt Buse turning to shoot at goal amid a goalmouth scramble, only to see his effort deflected wide.

Billericay began to look more of a threat on the counter-attack - Ricky Modeste being denied inside the box by a last-ditch Josh Nelmes tackle - and for all of Andrew Neal's hassling of defenders, the Peacocks' passing range began to go awry.

The away side certainly finished the half stronger, with Lafayette's stinging shot being parried by Lloyd Irish, and Moses Emmanuel firing into the side-netting.

Their reward came on 43 minutes, a cross from the right falling for Deering at the back post, and his controlled half-volley from 10 yards out nestling in the bottom corner.

Matt Wright headed a Brett corner narrowly over the top, but it was Billericay who went into the break in front.

The visitors began the second half more brightly, too, but Taunton introduced Dan Sullivan off the bench and began to get on the front foot.

Wright headed over from another Brett corner kick, but clear chances were hard to come by and goalkeeper Alan Julian was not really tested.

Billericay sat back at looked to play on the counter, Emmanuel always a threat, while the home side resorted to the long ball too often, when the wide options offered by Mitchell and Shane White may have been a better choice.

Not enough 50-50 balls fell the way of the Peacocks, and while there were flashes of good passing and dangerous crosses, the half-chances that fell the way of Wright and Neal went wide of goal.

Billericay saw out the five added minutes with relative ease, and it is the Essex side who will travel to Chesterfield in the first round next month.

As for Taunton, they can be pleased to have gone toe-to-toe with the leaders of the league above, and their attention now turns to Saturday's FA Trophy tie at home to Weymouth (ko 3pm).

Taunton Town: Lloyd Irish, Pierce Mitchell, Shane White, Ben Adelsbury, Keith Emmerson, Josh Nelmes (Dan Sullivan 55), Matt Buse, Ollie Chamberlain, Ryan Brett, Matt Wright (c), Andrew Neal.
Subs not used: Brett Trowbridge, Nuno Felix, Harry Gardner, Douglas Camilo, Matt Villis, Mike Davies.
Attendance: 1,582