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Barking 1-4 Chelmsford City, Saturday 16th September 2006, Mayesbrook Park, Kick-Off 3:00pm, F.A. Cup sponsored by E.ON First Qualifying Round.
Jeff Minton bagged a brace to guide City on their way to what Jeff King will hope is a lengthy participation in this season's F.A. Cup. Mario Noto and Tony Battersby also got in on the act as the Clarets completed a comfortable victory and picked-up the £2,250 prize money complete with a place in the Second Qualifying Round. Jeff King opted to select the same side that defeated Wivenhoe Town in the League Cup in midweek except for Peter Smith who was replaced at right back by Jay Conroy. The Chelmsford Manager was also forced to make another alteration just eight minutes into the game as Liam Hopkins was knocked-out in an accidental collision and Gavin Heeroo took his place. In the build-up to that injury Tony Battersby had the ball in the net but the referee ruled it out due to a foul. In the 16th minute City threatened again, this time Ricky Holmes being brought down on the edge of the area and Jeff Minton placed his free-kick onto the crossbar and over. However, Minton fared better on 24 minutes as Stuart Ainsley's far post free-kick was headed back across goal by Chenery and the former Brighton midfielder completed the job of scoring from a couple of yards. Chelmsford could then have built on that lead but instead they saw it evaporate in front of them just two minutes later. Paul Carr was able to turn in the penalty area and strike low into the bottom corner past a helpless Richard McKinney in goal. Sensing a potential slip-up, Chelmsford went back in front in style ten minutes before the interval. In an effort to top some of his already incredible goals so far this season, Mario Noto picked the ball up from an Ainsley lay-off and struck a swerving first-timer hard into the top corner from the edge of the box. The visitors were strongly in the ascendancy at this point and Holmes got a further sight of goal from an angle to shoot straight at goalkeeper Dean Neal while a Minton corner on the stroke of half time crept wide despite several bodies attacking it. Straight after half time Battersby battled hard for a ball and laid it back to Holmes whose effort was blocked, but this was the only excitement until the 69th minute. This was when Holmes was felled by Ryan Doyle on his way through to goal and a penalty was awarded, which Battersby converted despite a touch from Neal on its way into the net. Wayne Vaughan was a player familiar to Jeff King and Glenn Pennyfather from their Canvey Island days and he came on as a substitute for Barking before volleying at the top corner and forcing McKinney to catch the ball in the 76th minute in a rare home attack. But proceedings were brought to an end four minutes from the game's climax as another penalty came City's way. Doyle was again the unfortunate offender, this time on substitute Kezie Ibe, though Ibe at first had his attempt at a penalty saved by Neal. This was deemed a foul by the Referee for a defender creeping into the area unlawfully so Minton stepped-up to confidently place the re-take to Neal's left and seal Chelmsford's path into the next round. City: 1 Richard McKinney 12 Gavin Heeroo (On for Hopkins, 8) Barking: Dean Neal, Jamie Murat, James Hughes, Bradley Woodards, Ryan Doyle, Ben Wood, Carl Bruce, Jon Higgs, Paul Carr, Bradley Jones, Danny Cook. Subs: Dave Reilly, Stuart Brown, Wayne Vaughan, Jason Henry, Graham Hill (GK). Bookings: City: Noto (79, foul). Barking: Hughes (11, foul), Woodards (69, foul). Referee: Mr P.A. Forrester (Luton). Assistant Referees: Mr M.E. Links (London) and Mr D. George (Barnet). Attendance: 269. City Man of the Match: Jeff Minton. |
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By Chris
Evans (Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
