Buildup  

We are in game week 13 of the FA Women’s National League, Premier Division South, away to Gwalia United. After a break in the season for the holiday season, we are back in league action. 

 

Our number 23, and captain, Abbi Smith, makes her 50th appearance in Blue and White today! 

 

The Starting Lineups 

Billericay Town – Bell, Morgan, Hickman, Vennard, Ralston, Evans, Galbally, Ledwidge, Smith, Cawood, Cowley 

Gwalia United – Haaland, Thomas, Vine, Jones, McGowan, Quick, Jones, Pierce, O’Keefe, Ackerman, Asker 

 

The action 

We are underway in the first game of 2026, away at Gwalia United. 

 

Gwalia are pressing early on, putting the pressure on 

 

The first corner kick of the game is awarded to Gwalia in the 3rd minute. 

 

Kelsey Morgan is playing incredibly so far, as she chases the ball down the line and manages to get us a throw-in. 

 

Gwalia’s number 13, Amina Vine, has a chance, but Tyrii Bell collects and denies the home side.  

 

Our star debutant, Yaz Cowley, has an early chance as she is through on goal, but is knocked off the ball, and the shot goes just wide. 

 

A second corner for Gwalia, Bell makes the save, punching the ball away, and the home side hit it over the crossbar from the rebound. 

 

Incredible play from Tyrii Bell after Gwalia managed to break away. They are awarded a corner, and Ledwidge clears it away. 

 

We have our first corner of the game, a great chance from Nia Evans with a shot on goal, but it is unfortunately cleared away. 

 

Emily Vennard is pulled down in the box, but the referee decides it wasn’t worthy of a penalty. 

 

Half Time – Gwalia United 0-0 Billericay Town

 

We are back underway, with everything to play for in this half. 

 

Aimee Cawood puts a cross in, but unfortunately, she is blocked. 

 

Gwalia break away in a 2 v 1, a cross comes in, and no one meets it. 

 

Ledwidge is sent through on goal, Gwalia clears, and we are awarded a corner kick. 

 

The corner is taken by Abbi Smith, crossed in, we have a scramble in the box, and a shot hits the crossbar.  

 

Yazmin Cowley scores from the rebound, sending it flying into the bottom corner, and we are 1-0 up! 

 

Cawood attempts to double our lead with a shot on goal, but the keeper collects. 

 

Galbally is fouled in the final third, and the referee awards us a free kick. 

 

Nia Evans takes, shoots and unluckily hits the crossbar, the ball falls to Cowley, but the offside flag goes up. 

 

Gwalia think they’ve equalised, but the offside flag goes up, and the goal doesn’t count. 

 

We are attacking incredibly, with the confidence of being ahead, helping us massively. 

 

Tyrii Bell makes another impeccable save late in the game. 

 

The home team are awarded a penalty, McGowan takes, and unfortunately, Bell picks wrong, and they have an equaliser. 

 

We carry on, hoping to keep the draw. 

 

Gwalia attack, and they have a late goal on the cusp of full-time, bringing them ahead. 

 

The full-time whistle is blown, Gwalia 2-1 Billericay.

 

Full Time – Gwalia United 2-1 Billericay Town

 

Our first game of 2026 ended in an extremely disappointing 2-1 loss, with Gwalia getting two late goals to award them the three points.   

We looked incredible the whole game, with Yaz Cowley getting a goal on her debut to give us the leverage. A lot of new faces in the lineup, and they blended in well 

 

We are back in action against Chelmsford City Women on the 18th  of January in the quarter finals of the Essex cup at home.