Phoenix FM’s JOHN CHUBB reporting from Melbourne Stadium
Chelmsford City’s interest in this season’s FA Trophy came to an abrupt end on a very cold Wednesday evening, as they were comprehensively beaten by Vanarama National League opponents Tranmere. The Clarets had performed heroics on Saturday to come away from Prenton Park with an impressive 1-1 draw to force this replay, but on this occasion the club from the Wirral were comprehensive winners.
The home side’s preparation for the match was not helped by horrendous traffic delays on the A12, following a serious accident near Witham. This undoubtedly impacted on the match attendance, which was expected to be higher and resulted in some players only arriving at Melbourne Stadium just minutes before the kick off. This caused much frustration for City boss Rod Stringer, who had to include late arrival Chris Dickson among the substitutes with Phil Roberts taking his place in the starting line-up, which was otherwise unchanged from Saturday’s tie.
Stringer’s opposite number Micky Mellon, with half an eye on his team’s big league encounter with Bromley this Saturday made a total of seven changes from the eleven that began at the weekend.
Chelmsford had the first real chance of the game as early as the 4th minute. Robbie Willmott, the Clarets’ goalscoring hero in Saturday’s draw took a free kick which almost connected with the head of Chris Bush in the penalty area. The first oppurtunity at the opposite end came a minute later, when Tranmere’s Adam Buxton had a free kick saved by City keeper Ross Fitzsimons. Then later in the half, Rovers midfielder Jake Kirby was fouled just outside the area, and Buxton once again took a free kick which he fired just wide of the post.
Just before the half hour mark, City nearly had a stroke of luck when a poor clearance by Tranmere keeper Scott Davies fell to the feet of City forward Shaun Jeffers, but Davies atoned for his error by scrambling the ball to safety. The deadlock was then broken in the 30th minute when Kirby rounded Fitzsimons to put the Merseysiders 1-0 up. Worse was to come for the home side 4 minutes later, when Chelmsford’s Mark Haines met a Tranmere cross only to head the ball past his own keeper.
The Clarets attempted to bounce back, Bagasan Graham having a long range effort on target but this was saved by Davies. After further chances at both ends the visitors scored again in the 43rd minute, the influential Buxton’s free kick being met by Rovers centre half Ritchie Sutton who made sure his side went in 3 goals to the good at the interval by heading the ball past Fitzsimons into the net.
City boss Stringer reacted by making a change when the teams came out for the 2nd half, with Daniel Blanchett replacing Max Porter and the Clarets looked a rejuvenated side after the break. Willmott continued to cause problems for Rovers with his efforts at set pieces, and his persistence paid off in the 62nd minute when his corner found substitute Elliott Buchanan – who had only come on in place of Roberts 4 minutes previously – who fired a 12 yard left foot shot past Davies to put the home side deservedly back in the game.
The goal proved to be a false dawn for Chelmsford though, and Tranmere caught them on the break in the 70th minute. Buchanan had just come close to doubling his and City’s tally when the action quickly moved to the other end. The impressive Kirby rounded Fitzsimons and scored to make it 4-1 to the away side, much to the delight of the contingent of fans who had made the long trip from the North West.
The Clarets gamely battled on, but the tie was well beyond their reach by this stage and so their opponents go through to the 4th round with a home tie against fellow National League side Barrow. Chelmsford fans still have much to look forward to though, with a rearranged Essex Senior Cup semi-final against Heybridge Swifts on Monday and the National League South play-offs still looking a realistic target, especially if they can bag another 3 points at the weekend with Saturday’s home game against St. Albans City.
Chelmsford: Fitzsimons, Miller (Young 86), Graham, Porter (Blanchett 45), Bush, Haines, Willmott, Church, Jeffers, Roberts (Buchanan 58), Rees.
Tranmere: Davies, Maynard, Mangan, Harris, Buxton, Sutton, Kirby, Jennings, Stockton, Vaughan, Ihiekwe.
Attendance: 923.
Post-match quotes:
‘We were outstanding on Saturday and had to try and produce that again tonight….its been tough for us tonight in more ways than one. We’ve conceded four goals which we probably haven’t done for a while, and to be fair to Tranmere they’ve picked us off on a few occasions….they’re quite clinical and that was the difference in the game’. – Chelmsford manager Rod Stringer
‘We know that we have quality in the group and that if we get enough opportunities in good areas we will score goals. (On) Saturday we lacked that in vital areas….(tonight) the conditions were as tough as we’ve played in this season…but we did what we had to do and found a way’. – Tranmere manager Micky Mellon
