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Chelmsford City 2-1 East Thurrock United, Saturday 25th November 2006, Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
Jason Hallett came off the bench to score a stunning half-volley six minutes from time to see Chelmsford City come from behind against East Thurrock United and secure three Ryman League points in Melbourne to go fourth in the table. The young striker netted a splendid goal which added to Fiston Manuella’s first for the club ten minutes earlier that cancelled-out Scott Holding’s 51st-minute penalty. City are now behind leaders Margate by two points with a game in hand. City's Corringham-based opponents had enjoyed somewhat of a strangle-hold over this fixture with several results going their way in recent times, though Clarets boss Jeff King was keen to end their run and selected Gavin Heeroo in place of the suspended Mario Noto in midfield. Missing on the left was the injured Spencer Knight whose place went to Stuart Ainsley, back himself after a ban. On the opposing team there was a posse of former Chelmsford players. Jamie Lunan, Wes Faulkner and Lee Williams were welcomed to Melbourne as well as Samuel Okikiolu who featured in a handful of pre-season friendlies in Claret colours last season. The previous week's match at Hendon began slowly and this had all the hallmarks of a low-key first half. In the 10th minute Ricky Holmes side-stepped and struck from twenty-five yards which Lunan caught with the setting sun in his eyes. At the other end shortly afterwards, Chris Duffy's short back-pass allowed East Thurrock's new signing from Folkestone Invicta, Walid Matata, to impress a shot upon Richard McKinney from an angle which Chelmsford's custodian was able to push aside. Kezie Ibe held the ball up in surface water to feed Jeff Minton on 17 minutes and he found space on the edge of the box to shoot low, hard and wide. This was followed by trickery and a dangerous Holmes cross to no avail. Just before the interval two more Chelmsford efforts arrived, the first from the foot of Ainsley whose long-ranger looped-up off a defender's boot and dropped just over the bar, then Minton's swerving corner-kick from the right made contact with the far post. Despite these chances, the half-time whistle was blown with no goals having been recorded. Jeff King gave his side a few words of advice in the changing rooms though the worst possible scenario occurred on 51 minutes as Referee Mr McLaughlin shocked the crowd by awarding a penalty to the visitors for shirt-pulling by Manuella. Once the dust had settled, Scott Holding tucked the spot-kick into McKinney's bottom left corner. East Thurrock's left-back was the next to threaten eight minutes later with a free-kick from distance which drifted into McKinney's arms but Holmes fluffed a real opportunity to level for City by taking too much time when presented with an open shooting chance. Equally frustrating was the suspected handball spotted just inside the box by a visiting defender which was waved away by the man in black. This added to the sense of relief in Melbourne as Manuella made amends for his earlier mistake and netted the equaliser in the 74th minute. Minton floated a corner kick across which Ben Chenery got a touch to with his head and the former Staines Town powerhouse midfielder rifled high into the goal. Manuella and Minton combined once more ten minutes before the end with another flag-kick finding the head of the marksman who, on this occasion, watched his effort fly over. Ibe was next to see a shot go begging, somehow nodding off-target following an accurate far-post Duffy cross from Holmes' lay-off. Hallett had been on the pitch for twenty-four minutes to liven-up City's attack and he used his strength to turn a defender and have a strike diverted onto the woodwork just prior to netting a classy second. Assist specialist Minton supplied the centre from the left which Hallett controlled, turned and struck into the net with style through 'keeper Lunan's body. It was no less than the Clarets deserved for their recovery and there was to be no other winner after the equaliser. But McKinney stayed focussed to collect low at the foot of the post after a dangerous header flew at him within seconds to add his contribution. Heeroo had also looked assured in his performance, nearly scoring a goal of his own as he broke through the East Thurrock back line to see Lunan get there before him and touch the ball to Holmes whose strike was blocked. By no means was this classic Chelmsford, but the three points will have been no less precious as King's men continue their upward spiral. His team are unbeaten in the League since 9th September and he'll be looking to continue that form going into next week's clash at bottom club Walton & Hersham. City: 1 Richard McKinney East Thurrock United: Jamie Lunan, Lee Burns, Scott Holding, Wes Faulkner, Samuel Okikiolu, Jon Turnbull, Lee Williams, Steve Harrison, Ellis Remy, Walid Matata, Danny Harris. Subs: Chris Lewis, James Bunn, Max Cornhill, Kevin Mully, Jamie Reilly. Bookings: City: Duffy (67, foul). East Thurrock United: Turnbull (69, foul). Referee: Mr M. McLaughlin (Luton). Assistant Referees: Mr G.G. Gray (Hatfield) and Mr A. McCree (St. Albans). Attendance: 682. City Man of the Match: Fiston Manuella. |
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By Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
