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Slough Town 0-4 Chelmsford City, Saturday 21st April 2007, Stag Meadow, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Ryman League Premier Division.
Chelmsford bounced back from last week's home defeat to take apart already-relegated Slough Town thanks partly to a second-half Jamie England double. The young former Brentford midfielder added to a Chris Duffy header and a Kezie Ibe strike, securing three valuable points to increase the Clarets' position ahead of the upcoming promotion play-offs. City were back up to full strength in their front two, Kezie Ibe recovering from an ankle knock to be partnered by Lee Boylan who returned after suspension. Ashley Harrison was back between the sticks in place of Richard McKinney while Fiston Manuella missed-out on the squad altogether through injury and had his place taken in the centre of midfield by Duffy. The first opportunity of the afternoon fell to Boylan after 11 minutes though his close ranger was caught by goalkeeper Carl Dennison, though there was a shock at the other end as the Rebels managed to find the net but their goal was ruled-out by the Assistant Referee for offside. Around ten minutes later Boylan was involved again, this time acting as supplier when his low teasing cross missed the out-stretched toe of the arriving Jeff Minton at the far post by a slim margin. This was followed by a Spencer Knight swerving free-kick that just cleared the crossbar while a further dead-ball in the 34th minute supplied Ricky Holmes yards out and the speedy winger looked-on in disbelief as his strike somehow deflected off Slough defender Steve Daly and into the arms of Dennison. It was Ibe's turn to threaten six minutes before the break with a run and whistling shot that just cleared the post but on 44 minutes Knight's free-kick delivery picked-out Duffy who angled his header back across goal and inside the far post to give Jeff King's side a half-time lead. Just nine minutes the other side of the interval Chelmsford doubled their advantage. Jamie England's shot bounced back to Ibe and he bulged the net from ten yards out. It was then England's turn to get on the score-sheet two minutes later, Holmes whipping in a cross and he finished-off with the side of his foot to make it three. Youthful England was involved in the 73rd minute by putting a previously cleared chance back into the box for Boylan to see it get stuck between his feet at the crucial moment though in the 78th minute he followed-up Ibe's long ranger which was palmed back to him and he completed the rout. A late effort from Boylan, who almost punished a defender's misjudgement of a bounce to race through and scream a strike just wide, was the last real act of the game which ended heavily in favour of the away side to ensure them third place for the time being. City: 1 Ashley Harrison Slough Town: Carl Dennison, Rav Braith, Jon Mills, Steve Daly, Michael Donovan, Danny Jeffries, Darron Wilkinson, Terry Davies, Mark Bartley, Lucas Bizon, Abbey Nsubuga. Subs: Andrew Deaner, Mark Hokan, Craig Price, Michael Perrineau-Daley, Jamie Jackson (GK). Bookings: City: Chenery (13). Slough: Donovan (43, foul) Referee: S. Phipps. Assistant Referees: W. Christie and S. Scott. Attendance: 357. City Man of the Match: Steve Ward. |
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By
Chris Evans
(Picture by Matt Bradshaw)
