Gary McCann’s 10 Best Wins as Billericay Town Manager

Gary McCann has won 44 matches as Billericay Town manager since joining the club in April 2023, but ten victories stand out above the rest. From last-gasp winners to patched-up sides, dominant thrashings and higher-level scalps, here are McCann’s ten best wins as Blues manager so far.

#1 - Billericay Town 3-1 Tamworth – FA Trophy 2^nd Round – 18^th November 2023

Arguably the most complete performance of the McCann era, as The Blues swept past the National League North leaders at New Lodge. A first-half stunner from Alfie Cerulli, followed by second-half strikes from Bradley Stevenson and Moses Emmanuel, rendered Ty Deacon’s stoppage-time goal nothing but a consolation. Tamworth went onto win the National League North and became McCann’s second higher-division scalp in as many months.

#2 - Wingate & Finchley 0-1 Billericay Town - Isthmian Premier League – 7^th December 2024

Amidst the high winds and heavy rain of Storm Darragh, it was 4^th versus 3^rd at Summers Lane in a crucial Isthmian clash. After doing the double on Billericay in 2023/24, Wingate boasted the second-best attack in the division, while McCann had four first-team centre backs unavailable. With a patched-up defence battling immensely difficult conditions, Town held firm, kicking against the wind and rain in the first half. Ricay’s resilience was rewarded when 17-year-old Charlie Panton struck 13 minutes from time to earn The Blues, and McCann, a priceless three points.

#3 - Enfield Town 1-2 Billericay Town - Isthmian Premier League – 30^th January 2024

In another top five clash on a cold January Tuesday evening, The Blues notched an outstanding away win at a ground where they’d only won once in the past decade. After falling behind to an early Marcus Wyllie goal, Stevenson restored parity with a penalty eight minutes later. McCann’s side displayed fantastic character at a notoriously tricky venue, and Richard Asamoah’s 70^th minute effort snatched the points for The Blues, sending the ‘Ricay faithful home happy and bouncing back from a late defeat at Bognor Regis three days earlier.

#4 - Dulwich Hamlet 1-2 Billericay Town - Isthmian Premier League – 30^th March 2024

Town arrived at Champion Hill off the back of a torrid run of form, and Danny Mills’ first-half goal looked set to condemn ‘Ricay to their tenth defeat in twelve matches. After a cagey and rather forgettable second half, McCann, watching from the stands, saw his side pull level when Cerulli turned home from the edge of the box four minutes from time. The 2,700+ crowd then witnessed an astonishing turnaround just two minutes later, when Cerulli converted Asamoah’s low cross to send Blues fans into raptures, ending a terrible run of results that stretched back to mid-February.

#5 - Billericay Town 1-0 St. Albans City – FA Cup 3^rd Qualifying Round – 30^th September 2023

Without several key players due to injury, beating National League South opposition seemed an almighty challenge for McCann’s troops. With midfielders Matt Johnson and Ben Wells filling in as makeshift centre-backs, The Blues put in an outstanding performance against a side one tier higher. Cerulli was again the hero as he finished well in the 57^th minute, and the patched-up side fought tooth and nail against their Hertfordshire opponents, earning a hard-fought place in the fourth qualifying round.

#6 - Billericay Town 3-0 Dulwich Hamlet – Isthmian Premier League – 10^th October 2023

After the original fixture was bizarrely postponed due to international call ups for Hamlet, McCann’s side put in a complete performance to dispatch their south London opponents under the New Lodge lights. Off the back of an injury crisis and one league win in four matches, Emmanuel’s first-half rocket and two second-half goals in three minutes from Stevenson made the difference as The Blues swept aside their visitors in one of the best league performances at New Lodge in years.

#7 - Billericay Town 6-0 Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier League – 13^th January 2024

The Blues had threatened a demolition job all season long, and it arrived in mid-January when Cray were put to the sword at New Lodge. A hat-trick from Cerulli, plus goals from Stevenson, Jay Porter, and Frankie Merrifield saw Town thrash The Wands in a performance of complete control and domination, and gave fans a taste of what McCann’s side were capable of at full throttle. This marked a fourth consecutive win for ‘Ricay and a 13^th clean sheet for goalkeeper Dan Wilks.

#8 - Lewes 0-3 Billericay Town - Isthmian Premier League – 6^th February 2024

Billericay travelled to Sussex for a rearranged clash on a freezing cold, wet and windy Tuesday night off the back of a disappointing defeat to Folkestone three days earlier. In the persistent rain and gusty wind, The Blues dominated proceedings, with Jake Elliott’s calamitous own goal and an excellent Merrifield finish giving McCann’s side a commanding lead at the break. The Blues professionally saw out the second half against ten-man Lewes, with Adam Leathers’ deflected effort putting the icing on the cake in a textbook away performance.

#9 - Folkestone Invicta 0-3 Billericay Town – Isthmian Premier League – 7^th September 2024

The Blues had failed to win at The Alcaline Stadium since 2007 and rolled into Folkestone off the back of a disappointing FA Cup exit the previous weekend. The hosts had the better of the opening period, but McCann’s team put in a second half for the ages. Ashley Nzala’s brace and Ibrahim Jalloh’s late strike gave ‘Ricay a thoroughly deserved three points, ending a history of poor results on the Kent coast and sending a coachload of Blues fans back to Essex with smiles on their faces.

#10 - Billericay Town 4-0 Dartford - Isthmian Premier League – 8^th October 2024

Dartford arrived at New Lodge ten days after Billericay put four past basement side Bognor Regis, and suffered the same fate on a mild October evening. The Blues took the lead early on thanks to Tom Bender and again showed their defensive prowess to weather a response from The Darts. Merrifield helped ease McCann’s half-time team walk when he bundled home from a corner in the 36^th minute, and further goals from Emmanuel and Johnson put a gloss on the scoreline, securing an excellent win against a team likely to challenge for the top spots.