Billericay Town 1-1 Chelmsford City (Billericay win 4-3 on penalties)

By Mia Kipling

 

Buildup

We are back at New Lodge for the first time in 2026, facing Chelmsford City in the quarterfinals of the Essex Cup.

The Starting Lineups

Billericay Town – Bell, Sherrin, Hickman, Jones, Santiago, Evans, Smith, Ralston, Addy, Ledwidge, Pita

Chelmsford City – Mullet, Butcher, Freedman, Coe, Alder, Hollocks, Kelly, Dopson, Clarke, Woolvin, Rushen

The action

We are underway in the first half, with Chelmsford City kicking us off.

Tecia Ledwidge has an incredible shot, but unfortunately, her shot hits the crossbar.

Abbi Smith takes a long-range shot, but unfortunately, it goes narrowly wide of the mark.

Smith again with another shot, but it goes over.

We are awarded a corner. Smith takes, shoots into the box, but unfortunately, no one manages to get a head on it.

Smith takes a long shot at the keeper, but Mullet collects.

Tyrii Bell makes a save after being one-on-one with Woolvin.

Coe has a huge chance to open the scoring for the Clarets from a corner, but her shot goes wide.

Debutant Molly Sherrin denies the Clarets getting close on goal with an incredible tackle.

Chelmsford's number 9, Bec Hollocks, hits the post.

We are officially back underway after a break in play due to Sherrin going down, she exits, and Megan McAniskey enters the field.

Smith crosses the ball in, but her shot goes narrowly wide.

Half Time – Billericay Town 0-0 Chelmsford City

We are back underway in the second half at New Lodge.

Tyrii Bell makes another insane save to deny the Clarets from getting a first

We have a corner, but are unable to take advantage of it, with no one managing to get a head on it.

Melisa Jones goes into the book after a foul, being awarded a yellow card.

Catarina Pita exits the pitch, Macie Windsor comes on, returning from injury.

We are holding incredibly well defensively, keeping us in the game.

Tecia Ledwidge has a goal after Smith makes a cross toward the box, Ledwidge collects and slots it into the goal, taking us 1-0 over the Clarets.

We make a late substitution, Summer Addy coming off, Sophie Hardy comes on to make her debut.

Clarke’s strike from outside the box, unfortunately, beats Bell and nestles in the roof of the net.

Full Time – Billericay Town 1-1 Chelmsford City

We go to penalties to decide the game after it ends 1-1 at the whistle.

Nia Evans is the first to step up; she scores to put us ahead and gives us a positive start.

Hollocks steps up for the away side, and she scores.

McAniskey steps up to take our second; she slots it into the net.

Clarke scores for the Clarets.

Abbi Smith steps up, converting our third

Crook gets Chelmsford's third.

Macie Windsor steps up, sending her shot straight past Mullet.

Gaby Freedman is up for the opposition, takes the shot, and misses

Jones is next up; her shot unfortunately goes over the bar.

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Stimson steps up for Chelmsford’s final penalty, but she misses.

We are through on penalties; it ends 5-4 after the penalty shootout!

Full Time (after penalties) – Billericay Town 1-1 Chelmsford City (4-3)

We are into the semi-finals of the Essex Cup, after an incredible win over Chelmsford City, with two debuts, players back from injury and Tecia Ledwidge getting an amazing goal

It was a back-and-forth game, with both sides having chance after chance, and the game ended 1-1 at the full-time whistle, penalties being taken, and the Blues got the win after a 4-3 penalty win.

An insane performance from all the girls, hopefully this win will give us the momentum for our next game at home against Plymouth Argyle in the league

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