Dan Bradshaw’s first-half goal was cancelled out as Sheppey held Isthmian Premier Billericay to an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round draw on Saturday.

Striker Bradshaw netted early but Frankie Merrifield levelled the scores and it ended 1-1, with both goals in the first half, despite a frantic finish.

Canterbury-born Billericay midfielder Bradley Stevenson had fired over in the second minute of the tie before team-mate Moses Emmanuel did likewise three minutes later.

But with their first real opportunity, Sheppey - the lowest-ranked side left in the competition - struck with eight minutes played.

Jacob Lambert brought the ball forward and found fit-again Bradshaw. He cut inside a home defender and drilled past keeper Dan Wilks to find the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the campaign - his first since August.

Sheppey skipper Richie Hamill fired inches wide of Wilks’ left-hand post midway through the first period as his side began to grow in confidence.

Centre-back Connor Wilkins then bravely put his body on the line in the 35th minute to thwart Emmanuel in front of a bumper crowd of 1,241.

But, just as home frustrations grew, Billericay equalised two minutes before half-time. A corner led to some pinball in the penalty box and Emmanuel hit the post, only for Merrifield to bundle home.

The Isthmian South East Ites attempted to swiftly regain their advantage but Wilks got well behind Hamill’s low drive as it remained all square at the interval.

Three minutes after the restart, the visitors were given a major reprieve. Emmanuel somehow ended up in loads of space but hit the post with his strike before The Ites hacked clear.

Danny Leonard found space inside the home penalty area. The winger waited too long to pull the trigger, though, and Ricay’s defence cleared.

The first Sheppey switch saw scorer Bradshaw replaced by Oscar Housego in the 64th minute.

Soon after, Adam Leathers perhaps would have been better off shooting and, instead, found Emmanuel whose shot was plucked out the sky by away keeper Aiden Prall while James Bessey-Saldanha, who had come alive, was denied by Wilks.

The next chance also fell the way of the visitors when Wilks saved from Leonard after more excellent work by Bessey-Saldanha.

With 18 minutes to go, Prall had to be alert to save 25-year-old Stevenson’s free-kick which had taken a nick off Ade Azeez.

The same player had an 85th-minute free-kick - but that cracked against the crossbar.

In stoppage time, away left-back Frankie Morgan whipped in a left-wing cross which, agonisingly, cannoned against the crossbar while Stevenson was thwarted by Prall with late opportunities at either end.

The tie now goes to a replay at Holm Park on Tuesday night, by which time the victors of the tie will know who they will come up against in the First Round of the competition.

Away boss Ernie Batten had made a single change to his starting line-up which got knocked out of the FA Trophy at Ramsgate with Bradshaw, recovering from a hamstring problem, back for Housego.

Fellow frontman Alex Willis was also on the away bench after he played for Canterbury City last weekend as part of a dual-registration agreement but didn’t come on.

There were familiar faces to Kent football fans in the hosts’ team, too, which included eight-goal top scorer Stevenson, formerly of Gillingham and Herne Bay, ex-Dartford player Wilks and striker Azeez.

Azeez counts Dover, Dartford and Welling among his former clubs.

Billericay Town: Wilks, Wind, Dench, Stevenson, Emmanuel, Leathers, Azeez (Ramsay 83mins), Asamoah (Cerulli 73mins), Wells, Merrifield. Subs not used: Pollock, Waller, Lamacq, Robinson, Cassandra.

Sheppey United: Prall, Morgan, Majoyegbe, Hamill, Leonard, Wilkins, Bradshaw (Housego 64mins), Bessey-Saldanha, Lambert (Morris 89mins), Diallo, Wisson. Subs not used: Birch, Glock, Willis, Durowojo, Spencer.

Referee: Emily Heasup.

Attendance: 1,241.