THERE was a dramatic finale at New Lodge as struggling Billericay Town lost 3-2 against Bromley.
New skipper Glenn Poole looked to have earned the Blues a point with his 90th-minute leveller, but deep into stoppage time Mike Jones won a penalty for the visitors which was tucked away – via a post – by Danny Waldren.
Alex Osborn almost gave the home side a dream start when he capitalised on a slip by Moses Swaibu, but Joe Welch saved well.
Both keepers were kept busy in the early stages, but it was Welch who was beaten first when he could only parry Paul Semakula's shot to Osborn, who slotted home.
The visitors levelled ten minutes before half-time when good work from Jones teed up Ali Fuseini to fire past Sam Beasant.
Early in the second half, the Lilywhites went ahead courtesy of Pierre Joseph-Dubois, who fired home Ishmael Welsh's cross.
The Blues almost came up with an instant response when Poole's cross picked out Jay May, but Welch produced a superb save to preserve his side's lead.
Beasant made a fine stop to keep out Jones, before May somehow missed with the goal gaping, and Welch kept out Dave Collis' effort.
But Welch was powerless to prevent Poole firing the home side level in the last minute when he pounced on a poor clearing header to net.
However, celebrations were short-lived as Jones turned well in the box and drew a foul, allowing Waldren to end his side's six-game winless run – but make it three defeats on the spin for Billericay.
Manager Craig Edwards said: "That's twice in three games we've conceded a 93rd-minute winner. I know from when we've scored last-minute winners that to score one is the best feeling in the world, but to lose to it is the worst feeling in the world.
"We haven't been particularly strong defensively in recent weeks but I thought we defended well.
"I thought he went down a little bit softly but it was probably a penalty and it's gone in off the post and that's just about summed up our last week really."
Poole was captaining the side for the first time after replacing Rob Swaine with the armband, and Edwards added: "Pooley has played for me for a number of years, he's probably the most experienced player in the side.
"I felt that Rob Swaine was having a hard time of it and because his own game was suffering a little, he wasn't giving us the leadership we needed at this time.
"Pooley's bang on top of his game, he's got the experience and at this stage I thought he would be a better captain for us."
