Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from the Weston Homes Community Stadium
Chelmsford City won the Essex Senior Cup with a hard fought victory in Colchester over an East Thurrock United side, who made Rod Stringer’s side work hard for their prize.
The Chelmsford manager made a handful of changes from the side that beat Gosport Borough 5-1 in the league on Saturday, with Louie Theophanous (ineligible) and Bagasan Graham (hamstring injury) unable to take part. East Thurrock boss John Coventry, who had said prior to the final that he had known his team for this game for ‘a long time’ was forced to omit first team regulars Marvin Ekpiteta, Scott Heard and Femi Akinwande, all of whom were cup-tied for their club’s first ever Essex Senior Cup final appearance.
Both sides started brightly but it was Chelmsford had the best of the early chances in the 4th minute, Kane Haysman – scorer of a brace against Gosport on Saturday – firing a great effort just wide of the left hand post. East Thurrock were taking a direct approach, getting the ball forward to the front pairing of Sam Higgins and George Craddock at the earliest opportunity and both sides contributed to a frantic first ten minutes.
Once the game had begun to settle in terms of pace, a scrappy period ensued as few genuine chances were created by either team, with lots of niggly fouls and stoppages. City’s Chris Dickson had a great chance in the 34th minute, when he narrowly failed to connect with a Haysman cross. Then the deadlock was broken just before half time, and it was Dickson who was on hand to slam home his 10th goal since arriving at the club, from Robbie Willmott’s cross.
So it was the Clarets who entered the second half with their noses in front. Just after the restart Haysman went on a tremendous run, riding past 3 Rocks defenders then firing the ball just to the right of Lukas Lidakevicius in the East Thurrock goal. Then on 50 minutes another Willmott cross found Shaun Jeffers, who almost made it 2-0 but his effort bounced off the post.
On 54, just after Haysman had once again gone close for City Rocks had a chance at the other end, former Chelmsford forward Higgins firing just wide. United went close again four minutes later, Ross Fitzsimons pulling off a brilliant save from a long range effort by Ryan Sammons. Tom Wraight sent a scissor kick over the bar from the resulting corner, as Chelmsford endured a spell of pressure.
Elliot Buchanan replaced Jeffers for City and had a good chance in the 66th minute, when Anthony Church set him up for with a right foot shot that was pushed away by Lidakevicius. Wraight twice came close for Rocks with around 20 minutes left on the clock. The match was looking more like a proper cup final by this stage, with challenges and tackles flying in from both sides.
In the closing minutes East Thurrock desperately tried to get the ball forward as much as they could to try and get an equaliser, but Chelmsford held firm and could have grabbed a second when Bush’s effort was saved by Lidakevicius. Then in injury time, Rocks pushed everybody forward and nearly equalised through former City man Ben Marlow’s right foot volley, which sailed just over the woodwork. But the Clarets held on and took the Senior Cup back to Melbourne Stadium for the first time since 2009.
Chelmsford City boss Rod Stringer, speaking to Phoenix FM, said, “It was a tough game. I didn’t think we played well in the first half and we needed something to unlock them (East Thurrock). Fortunately Dicko got the goal….it was fine margins but we’ve shown a lot out there tonight…now we have another 5 or 6 cup finals”.
Chelmsford: Fitzsimons, Miller, Blanchett (Porter 69), Rees, Bush, Hill, Willmott, Church, Jeffers (Buchanan 62), Dickson, Haysman (Daley 82).
East Thurrock: Lisakevicius, Sammons (Osifuwa 77), Ruel (Honesty 77), Peddie, Burns, Wood (Freiter 85), Harris, Marlow, Higgins, Craddock, Wraight.
Attendance: 1672
