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Leyton 3-2 Chelmsford City, Saturday 31st March 2007, Lea Bridge Road, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
City allowed Hampton & Richmond Borough to leap-frog them into top spot after a disappointing single-goal defeat at Lea Bridge Road, despite a second-half fightback. Jeff Minton's two goals after the break meant little at the final whistle, with Leyton having already built a healthy advantage capped by their third scored by ex-Claret Dean Palmer, who was later issued with his second booking and sent-off. Chelmsford's awful record at the home of the Lilywhites now continues and a swift change of fortunes is required if the team are not to have to return there again next season. A number of familiar faces lined-up against City having represented the club at some time in the recent past. Goalkeeper Jamie Lunan joined midfielders Rio Alderton and the aforementioned Palmer in the starting line-up while Jeff King named a newcomer in the number seven shirt. Jamie England made an impressive City debut after his capture from Crawley Town just before the transfer deadline. Minton was considered fit enough to return to the side, effectively replacing the debutant from the previous game, Jason Rose, as Chris Duffy also dropped to the bench. Jay Conroy's facial injury saw him step aside for Bryan Glover to assume his right-back role. A competitive start meant little was given away and the first shot in anger didn't arrive until the 17th minute, Kezie Ibe dragging a shot just wide for the visitors. But seven minutes later Leyton managed to open the scoring as Manny Williams picked-out Curtis Davies at the far post whose effort crept inside the upright to put his side in front. Several bookings followed in the succeeding quarter-of-an-hour as the heat was raised though Lee Boylan fashioned a weak strike as the ball rebounded into his path. Moments before the break he was then thwarted by Lunan in the home goal thanks to a splendid double save from close range that included a block on Ibe's follow-up which seemed certain to fly past him. Naturally, with an equaliser a whisker away, fate dealt the visitors a cruel blow when Williams sprinted straight up the other end on the break and whistled the ball into the bottom corner, earning the East London outfit a a two-goal interval advantage. Ten minutes after half time a further Boylan shot bobbled across the face of goal but Leyton were more ruthless going forward, with Palmer running goalwards with the ball, dummying a shot to send custodian Ashley Harrison the wrong way and completing the third home goal by side-footing into and empty net with a swagger. This was the catalyst for Chelmsford to step up a gear and on 65 minutes an England half-hit cross covered ten yards to the feet of Minton on the edge of the box who took a touch and rammed high into the top corner past a helpless Lunan. City were starting to turn the game their way and Holmes struck a shot-cum-cross onto the roof of the net before a further Minton effort hit Boylan and dropped wide. The second goal was a result of Holmes' storming run into the box that defender Scott Honeyball ended abruptly and illegally, meaning Minton had the chance to bury the resulting penalty-kick down the middle of the goal, giving Lunan no chance again in the 79th minute. Five minutes later Leyton were reduced to ten men, Palmer collecting his second yellow card for a foul, though the hosts held-on for what was a great result for them and a nasty blow to City's title ambitions. City: 1 Ashley Harrison Leyton: Jamie Lunan, Billy Hawes, Roy Parkyn, Ben Gracey, Scott Honeyball, Rio Alderton, Dean Palmer, Leli Bajada, Curtis Allen, Manny Williams, Emond Protain. Subs: Des Thomas, Jason Roberts, Aaron Cox, Loui Fazakerley, George Sifonios. Bookings: City: Ibe (31, simulation). Leyton: Protain (27, foul), Palmer (38, delaying the restart of play and 84, foul), Hawes (72, delaying the restart of play), Honeyball (79, foul), Fazakerley (87, delaying the restart of play). Sent Off: Leyton: Palmer (84, second bookable offence). Referee: S.P. Feerick. Assistant Referees: M.E. Links and M.A. Tweed. Attendance: 289. City Man of the Match: Jeff Minton. |
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By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
