STEWARD ROUSING WITH RICAY

DETERMINED Ben Steward believes the heartbreak of Billericay Town's promotion near-miss can drive the Blues' bid for redemption.

- Ben Mapp

'Ricay were edged out of the Isthmian Premier title race by just ONE GOAL last season by Horsham despite leading the table heading into the final game and winning that 4-2 in front of an expectant crowd of 3,300.

And the pain wasn't to end there as they then suffered a brutal 119th-minute defeat to Dover Athletic in the play-off semi-final again in front of the New Lodge faithful.

But instead of wallowing in self-pity, Blues boss Gary McCann has upped the ante this summer in a bid to go one better next term, makiing no fewer than EIGHT summer signings already to add to his already talented squad.