Billericay Town 6-1 Romford

(Wheeler 6’, 74’, Bricknell 12’, 53’, 59’ Robinson 28’: Austin 46’)

From the AGP Arena

Essex Senior Cup semi-final

BILLY Bricknell scored a hat-trick as Billericay Town eased past Romford to set up an Essex Senior Cup final against Chelmsford City.

The striker took his tally to 24 for the season with the treble, while Nick Wheeler marked his return to the team with a brace.

Town should have taken a fifth minute lead as Jake Robinson’s lob looped towards the top corner, only for Dan Cossington to race back and make a goal-line clearance.

But 30 seconds later Town were ahead. A deep cross found Wheeler and the winger volleyed impressively into the far corner from 10 yards.

A Kai Heather strike from long range ripped inches past Jack Giddens’ post as Romford responded well.

But Town were to extend their advantage. Bricknell, starting his first match since the League Cup win over Wingate & Finchley three weeks ago, collected a cross from Wheeler and drilled under goalkeeper James May.

Romford were posing questions in wide areas, albeit without testing Giddens, while Watt should have made it 3-0 before the half hour only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper when well placed.

But the winger did superbly to tee up Robinson five minutes later, his low centre swiped home by the striker.

Romford held their own for the rest of the half, albeit Louie Theophanous struck the crossbar up the other end.

And 60 seconds into the second half Romford had a life-line.

Good wing play by substitute Connor Hammond allowed Max Austin the simple task of tapping home from close range.

But that was as good as it got for Romford. Bricknell sent a powerful 18-yard free-kick into the top corner seven minutes later before completing his treble with a low strike into the far corner from a Matt Paine cross.

Robinson hit the post only for Wheeler to score a sixth with a header at the far post with 15 minutes remaining.

Billericay Town: Giddens, Evans, Urquhart (Deering 58’), Butcher (O’Hara 58’), Paine, Waldren, Watt, Theophanous, Bricknell (Cheema 67’), Robinson, Wheeler