1. Saikou Janneh is starting to blossom.
Whilst fellow Bristol City loanees Jake Andrews, Opi Edwards and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans have been receiving plenty of plaudits in previous weeks - Saikou Janneh is now starting to get in on the act. Janneh's second goal in as many games - a scissor kick on the stroke of half-time - gave the Gulls a 2-0 lead.
It was also Janneh's third goal for the Gulls since his arrival at Plainmoor and although he didn't many to find the back of the net against Woking on his debut - he will have a second chance to score against the Cards in the FA Cup 1st round next week.
2. Shaun MacDonald doesn't deserve too much criticism for his part in Billericay's first goal.
Unfortunately for United goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, his headed clearance landed in the path of Billericay substitute Adam Cunnington who then responded by lofting the ball into an unguarded net to make it 2-1. However, MacDonald, 23, is one of a new generation of 'sweeper keepers,' inspired by Bayern Munich and Germany custodian Manuel Neuer. Part of the game of a 'sweeper keeper' is to act as a 11th outfield player and not be afraid to run head first into battle whenever the situation calls for it - which was required when MacDonald made the clearance in question.
Overall, throughout the game, MacDonald commanded his area well and displayed no hesitancy when coming to collect the ball - and if you consider when it is often said that goalkeepers don't fully mature until they are 25 and reach their peak at 34, the best is still to come from MacDonald.
3. Ben Wynter produced a steady display at right-back
It is fair to say that Ben Wynter has not had the best of starts to his Torquay United career, but against Billericay he produced what was arguably his best display in a Gulls shirt. After being recalled in place of the injured George Essuman, Wynter was not also strong defensively, he was also proved to be dangerous on the overlap and if Ruari Keating had been able to get on the end of his cross two minutes after Jean Yves Koue Niate had given United the lead, it could have been a different game.
4. Ryan Dickson continues his comeback from injury.
After being absent from the end of August through - prior to last Saturday against Wealdstone, his last league appearance had been against Gloucester City on August Bank Holiday Monday - Ryan Dickson completed his third game in the space of a week since his recovery. The former Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil man, who was converted from a left-back to a central midfielder by Gary Johnson's predecessor Gary Owers, displayed a calmness in possession and kept the ball well and his experience could yet prove to be crucial in the coming months to Johnson.
5. Defenders are now chipping in with goals.
In previous columns, I have mentioned about how United's midfield players are chipping in with their share of goals - but now the Gulls' defenders are getting in on the act. Prior to George Essuman opening his account last week against Wealdstone, the only goal scored by a defender had been Liam Davis' winner against Bath City. He has now been joined by Jean Yves Koue Niate, who opened his account for the club after being teed up by his central defensive partner Kyle Cameron - following Connor Lemonheigh-Evans' free-kick on 21 minutes. Surely it's only a matter of time before Cameron finds the target himself.
