Moors advanced to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time since 2016 as they overcame Billericay Town in a tense encounter at The Brewery Field.

Rob Ramshaw produced the game’s decisive moment with a 64th minute header, before late penalty heroics from Ryan Johnson saw Moors through to Monday night’s draw.

The first real chance of the game went Moors’ way as Glen Taylor jinked past a Billericay man on the edge of the area before firing on goal. His strike, however, was comfortably saved.

Play was stopped on the 19th minute after Brad James was on the receiving end of a firm challenge from Ike Orji but looked as though he could continue.

Taylor had another chance go amiss as visiting keeper Sam Donkin saved his header from inside the penalty area.

Despite James insisting on playing on through his injury, Moors were forced into an early change, as the Moors’ number 1 was replaced by youngster Johnson with just 32 minutes on the clock.

Ramshaw went close just a minute later as he drove across the edge of the area before dispatching a curled effort goalward, only to see his powerful drive deflected just over the bar.

The visitors almost put themselves in front 38 minutes in as Tommy Davis smashed a volley from close range, but his strike flew over the bar.

Jack Evans tried his luck on the 43rd minute with an overly ambitious shot from distance, which went well wide of the post.

Moors were yet again struck by injury on the stroke of half time due to a head collision which left Dan Rowe unable to continue, meaning Corey McKeown came on as his replacement.

With the scores level at half time, despite the injury problems suffered in the first period, Moors looked to come out with intensity, and that they did.

McKeown got into space on the left before floating a good ball into the area. His delivery found Ramshaw, who flicked a header into the path of Taylor, but Donkin managed to claim.

10 minutes later, Mackenzie Heaney whipped a lovely ball low into the path of Mondal in a congested penalty area, but the winger couldn’t get his footing right and the ball was cleared.

The Blues caused a scare for Moors as Liam Nash got on the end of a long ball over the top and into a one-on-one with Johnson, but the number 7 saw his weak effort saved by the oncoming Moors goalkeeper.

Graeme Lee’s side carved their way into the lead just after the hour mark as newly signed midfielder Ethan Robson’s ball in from the right found the head of Ramshaw, who glanced home into the back of the net.

Taylor almost doubled the advantage on the 74th minute as he took aim from close range, only to see his effort somehow headed off the line by a Blues man.

Another chance went begging for the number 9 just a minute later, as Dyson’s ball across the face of goal met with Taylor at the back post, but his miss-hit effort was claimed by Donkin.

Frankie Merrifield almost brought the visitors level as he got into a good position in the area, only for Johnson to brilliantly smother the shot from point-blank range.

Danny Scopes’ side continued their pursuit of an equaliser and were handed a golden opportunity to level in the form of a spot-kick in the 88th minute, after the referee adjudged Olly Dyson had committed a foul.

Jack Evans stepped up before seeing his penalty brilliantly saved by Ryan Johnson, who predicted the direction and got down well to his right to stop the number 16 from forcing a replay on Tuesday night.

Late drama at The Brewery Field as Moors progress to the First Round of the FA Cup, while keeping yet another clean sheet. Focus now shifts onto next Saturday’s home fixture against Merthyr Town.

Full Time: Moors 1 Billericay Town 0

Moors: James (Johnson 32), Pollock, Rowe (McKeown 45), Jones; Dyson, Dolan, Pugh (Robson 56), Heaney, Ramshaw, Mondal (Kouyate 85), Taylor.
Subs not used: Beals, Hill, Green.

Booked: Pugh (45), Heaney (87).

Billericay Town: Donkin, Davis (Barnum-Bobb 67), Scott, Johnson, Orji (Cerulli 72), Evans, Miller-Rodney, Jolliffe (Long 72), Nash (Oudnie-Morgan 67), Merrifield.
Subs not used: Blackman, Panton, Okewoye.

Booked: Orji (19), Oudnie-Morgan (87).

Referee: Callum Jones

Attendance: 1090

Written by Noah Betts