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Heybridge Swifts 1-1 Chelmsford City, Monday 10th April 2007, Scraley Road, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
City had a potential three valuable points snatched away from them in cruel circumstances at Scraley Road, with old boy Ian Wiles popping-up to cancel-out Lee Boylan's equally-late opener. The former Clarets defender, making his first start after a serious injury, converted on the half-volley five minutes from the end just seconds after Boylan had seemingly stolen a win for Chelmsford with a close-range tap-in. City now know maximum points from their remaining three games only gives them an outside chance of the title, with Hampton & Richmond Borough and Billericay Town expected to take the baton as the main challengers for automatic promotion rather than via the play-offs. Jeff King named the same team for the third match in a row although Jason Hallett was added to the bench in place of Marcel Nugent having recovered sufficiently from illness. On the black and white side of the pitch at kick-off were a number of ex-Clarets lining-up against their former team. Wiles was in defence alongside full-back Danny Barber and Jamie Richards was named up-front. In the dugout were Brian Statham and Barry Lakin who make-up the Management Team at the Dengie-based club. The first half, although competitive, was practically a non-event, with the only incident of note occurring on 38 minutes as Heybridge's Sean Marks got free of a defender and watched as his shot was deflected a yard wide. After the break City, in need of a win, showed more urgency, with Ricky Holmes screeching an effort narrowly wide. Though Marks was again involved at the other end just after the stroke of one hour's play as he sprinted forward but goalkeeper Ashley Harrison was able to hold onto his subsequent strike. Boylan's turn and shot weren't enough to trouble opposite number Danny Gay in between the Swifts' sticks in the 69th minute though shortly afterwards Kezie Ibe was denied from another decent penalty shout as he was grounded in the 18-yard box to no avail. The visitors became more desperate to net as time ticked away, Jamie England slicing a rasping shot towards the top corner which Gay was forced to palm away before Boylan attempted to catch him off his line without success. However, the golden moment arrived when the ball was sprayed out to Holmes on 82 minutes. He played the back inside to Jeff Minton who, in turn, helped the ball goalwards. Thankfully for Boylan it struck one of the stationary defenders in the way and fell nicely for him to tap home from a couple of yards to send the plentiful away support into a frenzy. This lead, however, was to last for just three minutes, Barber sending a high ball to the far right-hand side where Wiles met it on the half-volley to direct it past Harrison for the leveller. Perhaps the turning-point in City's season then arrived in injury time, with a right-wing delivery finding the head of the Chelmsford's unmarked Fiston Manuella who could only divert the ball wide instead of on-target. This ultimately cost the Clarets maximum points and the visitors had to leave with a share of the spoils. City: 1 Ashley Harrison Heybridge Swifts: Danny Gay, Erdem Artun, Danny Barber, Phil Goodwin, Ian Wiles, Tom Bonner, Robbie King, Adam Gillespie, Sean Marks, Jamie Richards, Gary Burrell. Subs: Russell Pond, Mark Reddaway, Dane Nelson, Liam White. Bookings: Heybridge: Burrell. Referee: Mike George. Assistant Referees: Ian Hogg and Adrian Oldershaw. Attendance: 1,098. City Man of the Match: Jay Conroy. |
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By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
