Chelmsford City FC V Braintree Town FC, National League South Play-Off Semi-Final, Melbourne Community Stadium, Saturday 27th April 2024, 3pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City welcome Essex rivals Braintree Town to Melbourne Community Stadium on Saturday, with the Clarets looking to book their place in a Play-Off final for the first time since 2017.
The Iron set up this weekend’s mouthwatering Essex derby Play-Off semi-final clash after winning their midweek playoff eliminator against Bath City in extra time.
City, who ended the National League South regular season sitting 2nd in the league table, earned a bye to the semi-final stage of the Play-Offs as a result of earning a top three finish.
With tickets for Saturday’s match selling fast, this weekend’s game promises to be another fiercely contested match between two of Essex’s oldest adversaries.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game…
Team & match stats:
· Saturday’s opponents were the team who conceded the least amount of goals in the regular National League South season. The Iron’s goal was breached 42 times, one time less than the 43 occasions when Chelmsford City conceded a goal.
· City have recorded two wins in the club’s past 16 Play-Off games. The club’s Play-Off victories came against Salisbury City in April 2013 and then against Dartford FC in May 2017.
· Anthony Cook scored an 89th minute penalty to earn the Clarets their 1-0 home win against Salisbury City, while goals from Louis Theophanous and Chris Dickson helped City to their 2-1 win at Princes Park in 2017.
· With the club’s last home Play-Off victory coming in 2013, Robbie Simpson’s Clarets can record City’s first Play-Off win at Melbourne Community Stadium in over 10 years if they beat Braintree Town this weekend.
Opposition:
After suffering two losses to Chelmsford City on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, Braintree Town turned their season around and went on to finish the remainder of their 23-24 league campaign in fine form.
The two 3-0 defeats which Robbie Simpson’s Clarets inflicted on Angelo Harrop’s side over the Christmas period left the Iron sitting 12th in the National League South table, and looking like outside contenders for a Play-off place.
However, an extraordinary run of form in the 21 league games which followed Braintree’s New Year’s Day loss at Melbourne Community Stadium saw Harrop’s men only lose twice.
Despite a final day defeat against Eastbourne Borough last weekend, the Iron’s impressive 2024 culminated in them earning a 5th placed finish in the league standings. This set up a Play-Off eliminator clash against 6th placed Bath City.
Harrop’s men ran out as winners of a tight game versus the Romans in midweek, with former Claret Tom Blackwell scoring a 118th minute goal in extra time in order to avoid a penalty shootout.
After tasting defeat at the eliminator stage of last season’s Play-Offs, Braintree Town will now be hoping to go another step further this weekend by earning a victory in their rivals’ own backyard, which would set up a Play-Off final clash against either Worthing or Maidstone United.
Team News:
Following last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Chippenham Town, which saw Samir Carruthers and George Alexander forced off with knocks, Clarets boss Robbie Simpson issued the following fitness updates:
“I’m not sure about Samir. George says he’ll be fine,” Simpson explained.
Captain Dave Winfield’s fitness will be assessed ahead of this weekend’s Essex derby, after the defender missed out on last week’s match in Wiltshire.
Ticketing information:
Saturday’s match will be ALL ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and this fixture will be segregated. Ticket prices are as follows:
· Adult – £15
· Concessions/Seniors – £10
· 12–17-Year-Olds/ Student – £5
· 11 years-old and under (Accompanied by a paying adult) – Free admission.
Please Note:
· 11 years-old and under (Accompanied by a paying adult) will require a ticket for entry, available online.
· For anyone booking a concession, student, or youth (12–17-year-old) ticket; proof of status may be required to gain admission on the day.
Turnstiles at Melbourne Community Stadium will open at 12pm on matchday. To avoid queues at the turnstiles, supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible.
How to follow the game:
National League TV will be live streaming this Saturday’s Play-Off semi-final. Supporters can purchase their streaming passes via the National League TV website.
Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at Melbourne Community Stadium.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of proceedings in Essex by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
Words by Jake Dixon.
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