|
|
|
|
Chelmsford City 2-0 Boreham Wood, Saturday 4th November 2006, Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
Chelmsford jumped to sixth in the table thanks to goals from Jeff Minton and Stuart Ainsley that marked a 2-0 victory against Boreham Wood. The Clarets secured three points from a comfortable win over the Division's leading scorers and kept another morale-boosting clean sheet ahead of next weekend's F.A. Cup hosting of Aldershot Town. With Steve Ward missing in central defence due to a knock, youngster Bryan Glover was handed his first League start for the club after his arrival via Leyton Orient and Crawley Town, while Ainsley returned from suspension to fill the gap left by the injured Spencer Knight on the left of midfield. Former Margate, Grays Athletic and Braintree Town centre half Chris Wild took his place on the bench after signing on Friday. Ten minutes into the game Kezie Ibe squandered a half-chance following the Boreham Wood defence failing to clear a routine ball but Chelmsford were in front three minutes later. Mario Noto attempted to work space for a shot inside the area and upon his second sight of goal he was brought down for a penalty. Minton put his spot-kick miss against Maidstone United out of his mind as he confidently stepped-up to ram down the middle of the goal to open the scoring. Ibe went close to doubling City's lead on 19 minutes, Jay Conroy overlapping Noto on the right and delivering near a hesitant defender who enabled the Chelmsford striker to divert at 'keeper Noel Imber and onto the post. Then Noto himself was guilty of wasting a guilt-edged opportunity shortly afterwards as Minton dribbled down the left and squared to the midfielder in space for him to blaze over with time and space from ten yards. Towards the end of the half the Wood produced a rare threat via Chris Watters' swerving free-kick that Clarets custodian Richard McKinney easily dealt with as his side entered the break a goal to the good. In the early stages of the second period both sides exchanged attacks with Lee Allinson hacking well over from long range for the visitors and Noto dragging a shot a yard wide of the post from the edge of the area at the other end. Closer still for City, in the 55th minute, a defender headed onto his own crossbar from a swerving Ainsley set-piece though an infringement put paid to any follow-up. Three minutes later McKinney was forced to tip a Chris Bangura goal-bound free-kick over the bar and the away side suffered a blow when Allinson had to be substituted due to a leg injury. But Chelmsford were always in control anyway and in the 62nd minute a splendid Noto pass from the left switched play to Ricky Holmes who took a touch before arrowing the ball low to the far post where Ainsley was on hand to simply finish the job by tapping home City's second. It was no less than the hosts deserved and the lead should have been extended to three fifteen minutes from time. Ibe found himself bearing down on goal following a defensive mix-up but with time on his side he allowed his marker to catch him up and the chance disappeared. This was a well-organised and secure victory for Jeff King's men who continued their push for promotion which will enable them to concentrate fully on the F.A. Cup First Round Proper in midweek. A trip to Braintree Town in the Essex Senior Cup follows immediately and these sidelines will be easier to focus on with these further League points on the board. City: 1 Richard McKinney Boreham Wood: Noel Imber, Michael Cox, Ryan Moran, Paul Burrows, Mark Smith, Luke Gregson, Greg Morgan, Lee Allinson, Chris Bangura, Leon Archer, Chris Watters. Subs: Darrell Cox, Andre Delisser, Elvis Balic, Danny Hart, Joe Reynolds. Bookings: City: Holmes (41, delaying the restart of play), Duffy (51, foul). Boreham Wood: Moran (9, foul), Morgan (36, foul), Bangura (61, foul). Referee: Mr P. Andrews (Rochester). Assistant Referees: Mr R. Allum (Croydon) and Mr C. Hicks (Sutton). Attendance: 678. City Man of the Match: Mario Noto. |
|
By Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
