FOOTBALL'S a cruel game and doesn't Craig Edwards know it after Tonbridge Angels struck with the last kick on Monday.
Billericay Town were seconds from making it the perfect Easter – they beat Hayes and Yeading 4-1 on Saturday – when David Ijaha fired home an equaliser they scarcely deserved.
It meant the hosts escaped with a 1-1 draw in the relegation battle and it leaves the Blues with a huge mountain to climb.
"The last kick of the game – the 95th minute – I can't believe it," Edwards said. "We were 3-1 up against them at our place with five to go and they got back to 3-3.
"We had three opportunities to clear that ball. It was a silly free-kick to give away in the first place. We've only ourselves to blame.
"Their fella has struck a ball like he's not struck one all season and it's arrowed in. Sometimes it is not meant to be. People are always going on about football being a cruel game and it was today (Monday).
"We were so comfortable. It's really, really disappointing."
Edwards added: "It would have been a massive three points. It was a six-pointer. It would have got us level with them. They've got out of jail, but we're a better team than them.
"But I suppose that will be proved by the amount of points we get at the end of the season.
"I'm just so disappointed. We had three chances to clear the ball and paid for it."
Billericay need to bounce back this weekend when they travel to Sutton. They shouldn't need much motivation, Sutton beat them 4-2 just a few weeks ago, a performance and scoreline Edwards does not want to see repeated.
"We drew a line under it after that Sutton debacle," Edwards said. "I brought in three new players with ten games to go.
"We are looking to be in the top three over those ten games.
"We'll be out to right a few wrongs against Sutton. We were awful against them and we will get an improved performance, I'm sure of that."
Town held a benefit night for Edwards' son, Craig Edwards junior, on Saturday and the Blues boss said it was a great evening.
"It was fantastic and I'd really like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped out," he said. "It was a brilliant night and we had a great turnout.
"We haven't got a final tally yet, but Craig did very well out of it."
