Match Reports
13/04/02 Tiverton Town 0 Chelmsford City 1
A sublime finish from who else but Ian Cambridge virtually assured Chelmsford City’s Premier Division status down in Devon on Saturday. The gifted Cambridge, playing in his preferred role of striker alongside Kris Lee, conjured up a masterful goal after just seven minutes that proved decisive in a game of few clear-cut chances. Spotting keeper Paul Edwards off his line, he chipped the ball home with the outside of his right foot from 25 yards to thrill the sizeable following from Essex. Russell Williamson wasn’t quite as accurate in trying to emulate Cambridge, whilst there was little to worry City’s Richard Hurst in the opening period. After the break the hosts came more into it, although Edwards was forced to push an inswinging Cambridge corner onto the bar. A trio of Tivvy substitutions then raised the tempo and Chelmsford’s defence came under increasing pressure, but superbly marshalled by Ian Wiles and John Girling they held firm. Cambridge almost eased the nerves with a late free-kick that flashed wide but the Clarets had already done just enough to secure a vital and deserved win.
Chelmsford City 2 Worcester City 1
Twelfth place in the table sounds
fairly comfortable at this stage of the season, but with most of the teams below
Chelmsford also winning this was a crucial success for the Clarets. In reality
all that separates them from the drop zone is four points and it would have been
much tighter but for Junior Samuels’ late winner. The veteran striker, in and
out of the starting line-up all season, left the bench after Kris Lee was forced
off with a facial injury and came up trumps seven minutes from time. Ian
Cambridge’s corner caused mass confusion and the ball got jammed on the
goalline before Samuels bravely applied the finishing touch. Lee had earlier
given Chelmsford the lead, timing his run perfectly to collect Kevin
Dobinson’s header over the top and slot past Danny McDonnell in the 12th
minute. Prior to that a blatant penalty-area push on ex-Norwich City midfielder
Tom Davey was ignored by the referee as the home side started well following
four straight losses. Dobinson also set up a good chance for Ben Fuller but his
effort cleared the bar by some distance. Worcester, cruising in sixth spot, were
level on 27 minutes after Nathan Jukes centred into the six-yard box and
everyone dithered except Adam Webster, who calmly beat Richard Hurst. It was in
fact Hurst who was Chelmsford’s saviour twelve minutes later, brilliantly
claiming the honours in a one-on-one with Jukes. After the break shots on goal
were few and far between, although Jukes was disappointed to miss the target
following a swift three-man move. That proved decisive come five o’clock,
although the Essex side could still do with at least another victory from their
last four games to ward off any thoughts of an instant return to the Eastern
Division.
Chelmsford City 2 Merthyr Tydfil 1
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| Cambridge's Free Kick on its way in. More pics to come. Pics Courtesy of Paul P |
For
the second week running Chelmsford City came up trumps following a grim
first-half performance that wasn’t helped by injuries to both Garry
Cross and Danny Hockton. The Welsh side, who won few friends with their
constant fouling and whingeing, had several good openings during the early
stages but only took advantage of one, a statistic that finally cost them
dear. Leon Hapgood blasted over an open goal on ten minutes after a swift
four-man move but just two minutes later the visitors did go in front,
courtesy of an exquisite 30-yard chip from Paul Hunt that dropped just
under Richard Hurst’s bar. The City stopper then denied Hunt and Paul
Harries in quick succession as the hosts failed to make any impression
against the relegation-threatened Martyrs. But the pendulum swung City’s
way after an interval blast from boss Paul Parker and they were level in
the 57th minute, Ian Cambridge clipping a short free-kick over
the wall and in via the upright from the edge of the box. Merthyr were
beginning to wilt and it was only a matter of time before their overworked
defence was further breached. Chelmsford’s Ian Wiles was sent sprawling
in the area but the referee incurred the wrath of both teams by giving a
corner, one of many weird and frustrating decisions witnessed by the 484
crowd. Tom Davey’s 30-yarder was pushed aside by keeper Neil Thomas but
he was to be beaten again with eight minutes of normal time remaining. A
deft interchange between Cambridge and substitute Junior Samuels allowed
the latter to just beat the onrushing Thomas and nudge the ball into the
net. It was no more than the Clarets deserved and the same combination
almost conjured up a third goal only for Thomas to pull off a breathtaking
fingertip save. Despite seven minutes of stoppage time Merthyr didn’t
seriously test City, thus putting them in a good frame of mind for
tonight’s (Monday) home clash with Welling United, kick-off 7.45 at New
Lodge.
Welling United 2 Chelmsford
City 4
Away victories don’t come much better than this, especially when you consider Chelmsford City’s appalling record on the road this season. Ten defeats from their previous twelve excursions didn’t augur well for the Clarets, and Welling going ahead on 11 minutes having already missed three good opportunities just seemed par for the course. But three minutes into stoppage time Kevin Dobinson turned the game on its head when his scuffed shot from 25 yards trundled goalwards. Welling’s defenders turned their backs in anticipation of Glen Knight launching one final attack, only to be stunned when the keeper produced a major fumble to gift City the points. The opening 45 minutes were fairly dire for the Essex men and it should have been 2-0 in the 27th minute only for Gary Abbott’s firmly-struck penalty to be superbly pushed aside by Richard Hurst. Whether or not that was the turning point is debatable, but it did allow Paul Parker’s side to grab a shock equaliser eight minutes later, Russell Williamson cleverly setting up Ian Cambridge to finish well from six yards. However, Hurst and Garry Cross presented Dean Standen with a simple chance soon after the resumption and he duly doubled his tally for the afternoon. Welling’s Mike Rutherford should have walked for an X-rated tackle on Neil Gough but that injustice appeared to inject new life into the visitors. Midway through the second-half the outstanding Ian Wiles set off on one of his marauding runs that ended with a 25-yard shot swerving into Knight’s top corner. All of a sudden City sensed a maximum haul and took the game to the hosts, but no-one really envisaged Dobinson’s amazing breakthrough. And just to rub Welling’s noses in it, fellow substitute Danny Hockton steered home a fourth moments before the final whistle after being unselfishly freed by Cambridge. Like all rare things, the outcome was one to savour for the large contingent of travelling supporters, and one certainly worth the unduly long wait.
Chelmsford
City 3 Salisbury City 2
Another ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ performance from
Chelmsford kept their supporters on tenterhooks right up to the final whistle as
struggling Salisbury continued to plug away for a point. The Clarets’ early
onslaught paid dividends after just ten minutes when Ian Cambridge’s sublime
pass put Kris Lee in on goal and he did the rest, clipping his shot past James
Bittner. The debutant keeper had already made a breathtaking stop from Cambridge
but was again powerless after 19 minutes as Lee crossed from the left and Mark
Adams steamed in at the far post to crash in number two. That really should have
been that but Chelmsford’s vulnerability at the back was exposed when Matt
Davies netted with a deflected shot from the edge of the area in the 31st
minute. And before half-time the bottom-placed Wiltshire outfit were level
thanks to a lightning raid down the right. Bittner’s distribution was perfect
for Tyrone Bowers and he skipped down the wing, centred for Darren Crook and he
made the most of a Ben Lewis slip to ram in the equaliser. Sluggish Chelmsford
responded with the winning goal four minutes after the resumption but they never
found the necessary spark to put Salisbury completely out of sight. Lee hustled
Roger Emms into a mistake and duly chipped over the stranded Bittner for his
sixth Chelmsford goal. Fellow striker Danny Hockton then came up with his
contender for ‘miss of the season’, leaving his nervy team-mates to grimly
hang on to their slender advantage.
City are in midweek action when they visit Ashford
Town for a League Cup tie on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.
Gravesend
& Northfleet 2 Chelmsford City 0
Only the brilliance of goalkeeper Richard Hurst
prevented Chelmsford City from a real walloping as they meekly surrendered their
F.A. Trophy aspirations at Stonebridge Road on Saturday. Time and time again
Hurst was left completely exposed and it took a succession of quality saves to
keep the polished Ryman Premier outfit at bay. The writing was on the wall as
early as the sixth minute when Hurst foiled the marauding Che Stadhart, and this
was quickly followed by the denial of Jimmy Jackson who ran the show for
Gravesend before being stretchered off moments after the clinching goal on 67
minutes. With two escapes already under their belt ragged City didn’t heed the
warning and only a dramatic block by Ben Lewis kept out Craig Wilkins. The
opener belatedly arrived after 31 minutes, former Chelmsford defender Eliot
Martin sending over a peach of a cross for Wilkins to firmly head in at the far
post. Kris Lee did test home keeper Jamie Turner shortly before the interval,
his low volley being clutched at the base of the upright. That apart it was a
fairly sorry tale for the Clarets, especially when half-time substitute Ian
Cousins was sent off for a late challenge on Jackson. The referee allowed play
to continue and Gravesend literally took advantage to wrap up the tie. Darren
Smith’s sizzling shot was expertly pushed aside by Hurst but Stadhart easily
tucked in the loose ball. Young Cousins, on the comeback trail after a year out
through injury, saw red prior to the resumption and the final whistle couldn’t
arrive quickly enough for the outplayed visitors. City will therefore be looking
to bounce back on Saturday when they entertain basement dwellers Salisbury.
Chelmsford
City 1 Harlow Town 1 14/10/2001
A cracking strike three minutes into added time
from Kris Lee rescued Chelmsford City from F.A. Cup elimination at Billericay
yesterday. Harlow, managed by former Colchester United winger Ian Allinson, were
on the verge of a notable scalp until Lee sent most of the 835 crowd home
feeling mightily relieved. The Clarets, who squandered a hatful of chances to
win the tie comfortably, looked to be on their way out until Lee pounced to set
up a replay at Harlow on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm. Any one of Junior Samuels,
Ian Cambridge and Lee himself could have opened the scoring in the first-half,
although it was Russ Williamson who went closest when his curling shot struck
the Town crossbar. Two minutes after the restart Lee missed a corker of a chance
when he headed wide from Samuels’ teasing cross. However, the Clarets were
stunned on 55 minutes when Jon Hooker rounded keeper Richard Hurst and set up
Marc Salmon to fire home. City then pegged the Ryman League outfit back for long
periods, but with James Hassell looking unbeatable in the Harlow goal, an upset
loomed. But Lee latched onto substitute Mark Keen’s flick and sweetly volleyed
in from twelve yards to break Harlow hearts. And even then City could have
stolen it only for Ian Wiles to end his incredible solo run with a somewhat weak
shot.
Hednesford
Town 1 Chelmsford City 2 15/9/2001
Goalkeeper Richard Hurst took the plaudits as City
registered their third victory in a week to move further up the Premier Division
table. Hurst, who made a fairly inauspicious start to his Chelmsford career
after joining from St. Albans in the summer, looked solid throughout and made
several vital saves just as the Pitmen looked set to spoil the visitors’ day.
John Bishop gave City the perfect start by nodding in Chris Payne’s flag-kick
with only a minute played. At the opposite end Bishop and Co. did extremely well
to shackle former Birmingham City beanpole Kevin Francis, but could do nothing
to stop the unattended Graham Lancashire heading in the leveller on 29 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time Danny Hockton crashed his shot against the underside
of the Town bar, and soon after the restart the woodwork aided City when Paul
Bagshaw hit the post following a Hurst block. But just on the hour Chelmsford
grabbed the winner. Ian Cambridge’s corner saw Junior Samuels’ effort
cleared off the line, and Cambridge picked up the loose ball before jinking his
way into the area and burying a low shot beyond Chris Wood to seal another
away-day success.
City will be after win number four when they
entertain Folkestone Invicta at New Lodge tonight (Monday), kick-off at
Billericay is 7.45pm.
Chelmsford
City 3 Newport County 1
It may have been a long time coming, but
Chelmsford City’s first win of the campaign was certainly worth waiting for as
they tore the visitors to ribbons during a breathtaking first-half. City had
Leyton Orient loanee Brendan McElholm at right-back but resisted the temptation
to put new signing Kris Lee, purchased in a £15,00 deal from Heybridge Swifts
on Friday, straight into the starting line-up. County keeper Pat Mountain had
already made several fine saves before Danny Hockton set up Paul McCarthy to
slip the ball home after 25 minutes. Mountain then made a stunning stop to foil
Hockton but was powerless to keep out Kevin Dobinson’s low drive after Ian
Wiles’ shot had rebounded off the woodwork. City surged even further ahead
after 42 minutes, Dobinson again finding time and space to net from the edge of
the box. The beleaguered Welshmen were grateful to be only 3-0 down at the
break, although they did make a better go of things in the second-half.
Ex-Cardiff City star Jeff Eckhardt stole through to score with a crisp finish on
65 minutes but despite plenty of pressure the points were destined to stay in
Essex.
Hinckley
United 2 Chelmsford City 0 1/9/01
Chelmsford City will have plenty to prove tonight
(Monday) when they entertain King’s Lynn in a bid to wipe away the memory of
Saturday’s appalling display at Hinckley. City hardly threatened all afternoon
and the writing was on the wall as soon as the Leicestershire side went in front
on 53 minutes, albeit via a dubious Jamie Lenton penalty awarded for hand-ball
against Richard Skelly. Not even that setback could lift the Clarets from the
doldrums as they continually lacked any cohesion. It was almost inevitable that
Hinckley would score again, and this they duly did in the 77th minute
as Andy Lucas picked out Lenton at the far post and he gleefully rammed the ball
into the roof of the net to round of a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Paul
Parker’s side. The first-half had also been lacking in quality and only two
fine saves by Richard Hurst kept sad City in contention.
Chelmsford
City 1 Tamworth 1 25/08/2001
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