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Chelmsford City 3-2 Harrow Borough, Saturday 28th April 2007, Chelmsford Sport & Athletics Centre, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
City set-up a home tie with Billericay Town in the play-offs after a single-goal defeat of Harrow Borough, which relegated the Middlesex club in the process. Five goals were shared in the first-half, weighted unevenly in favour of Jeff King's men who confirmed their final placing of third in the Premier Division which means they will host their former landlords in the promotion semi-finals on Monday night in Melbourne. But there were contrasting emotions in the Borough Dressing Room at full time, with the loss meaning they are the fourth from bottom team in the three feeder divisions to the Conference South with the weakest playing record, consigning them to the Ryman League Division One next season. The Management were reluctant to change a winning team and therefore picked the same eleven who featured at Slough Town last week although Fiston Manuella was upgraded to the substitutes' bench as he continues his recuperation after injury. And Chelmsford got off to a perfect start when Ricky Holmes was crudely barged over in the penalty box which enabled Jeff Minton to strike down the middle of the goal from his spot-kick. However, this advantage was to last just three minutes as the Assistant Referee failed to adjudge Elliott Onochie a seemingly simple offside and Harrow's prolific front-man sprinted through before lobbing goalkeeper Ashley Harrison into the net. Shortly afterwards Harrison saved a Daniel McGonigle strike then bravely dived-in to push away the rebound as panic began to infest itself in the home defence but order was restored after 15 minutes thanks to Holmes. Jay Conroy provided a superb long raking ball over the defence which the City youngster controlled brilliantly before sensationally half-volleying over helpless Borough goalkeeper Ashlee Jones and high into the goal. This was followed by a Lee Boylan close-range header that was saved while at the other end, on 25 minutes, Harrow were on the offensive again as they had the ball in the net through Danny Leech only for the Assistant to disallow the goal for an earlier offside offence. Kezie Ibe then became the golden boy after 27 minutes, receiving Holmes' pass over the top before beating-off the challenge of a defender on the goal-line, dragging the ball back around 'keeper Jones then tapping home along the floor from a couple of yards. With ten minutes of the period remaining a further goal from the visitors was on the cards, an Onochie header from a cross landing on the top of the net and Bobby Highton's long-ranger slightly troubling Harrison. Yet the high Chelmsford defensive line was exposed as James Bent raced through and mis-hit his shot wide prior to a second arriving again through Onochie. When through on goal he hesitated for a moment before placing the ball wide of the 'keeper into the goal. The opening chance of the second half came City's way out of the blue, Jamie England trying his luck from 45 yards after spotting the goalkeeper off his line though his shot landed narrowly over. Results were going Chelmsford's way elsewhere at half time so it was crucial the team maintained or even extended their lead. Therefore a moment of tension was endured two minutes later, McGonigle being able to record a free header at goal when in space to no avail. Just after the hour mark Ibe wriggled his way into the box and was one of a mass of bodies going for a ball which eventually found its way into the goalkeeper's hands. The introduction of Jason Hallett as a substitute then led to further chances as he headed narrowly over from Spencer Knight and Minton corner-kicks on 72 and 77 minutes respectively. These were rare moments of action in the second half, however, and the bench will have been more concerned to see Holmes and Ibe limp off separately in the final couple of minutes with the huge Billericay derby just around the corner. City: 1 Ashley Harrison Harrow Borough: Ashlee Jones, Daniel Nielsen, David Idemudia, Wayne Walters, Danny Leech, Bobby Highton, James Bent, Kuasi Frempong, Elliott Onochie, Daniel McGonigle, Albert Adomah. Subs: Jonathan Constant, Kyle Matthews, Jamie Diston, Leon Morris, Kieran Jimmy. Bookings: City: Hallett. Harrow: Idemudia (66, foul). Referee: G. Evetts (Hoddesdon). Assistant Referees: M.R. Spradbery (Grays) & P. Faithfull (Loughton). Attendance: 1,405. City Man of the Match: Chris Duffy. |
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By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
