Leiston boss, Glenn Driver, is hoping to dash big-spending Billericay Town’s hopes of gate-crashing the Ryman Premier play-offs, when the two clubs meet at New Lodge today (3pm).
While Leiston have been in the thick of the promotion race all season, and remain well-placed in third spot despite a 1-0 defeat at leaders Bognor Regis in midweek, Billericay have mounted a late onslaught on the top five following a big injection of cash at the Essex club by new multi-millionaire owner Glenn Tamplin, who is also the first team manager.
Billericay suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of play-off rivals Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night, to leave them four points adrift of the play-off section with just five matches remaining.
Driver is certainly not a big fan of Billericay’s current new-found wealth, and razzmatazz.
“Billericay away is going to be another tough game, but we’ve got to make sure that we get something from this game,” explained Driver. “If we can do that, then we’ve got a really good chance. We will be in amongst it.
“Billericay for me are going to be a football club in the future, I take no interest in them at the moment. We lost Byron Lawrence to them, but we got good money for him.
“I’d rather see clubs like Bognor get promoted. They have managed it over the course of a season, and have been progressive over the years. It’s not sour grapes, but he’s (Tamplin’s) come in and is trying to buy them into the play-offs, while others have been battling up there all season.
“Hopefully, we can beat them to end their season,” added Driver.
Leiston have two games in hand over most of their rivals, so remain in a strong position.
Driver continued: “I think Bognor Regis are the best team we have played this year. The way they play football is a credit – they play between the lines very well.
“We’re not far off it, if they are the best team in this division.
“If we reach the play-offs, after reaching the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and the first round proper of the FA Trophy, and with our gates being nearly up 200, then we’ll have done well.
“Hats off to Bognor Regis, I like the way they go about their business.
“Tuesday night was one of our games in hand, so it was not the-be-all-and-end-all”
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