JOHN CHUBB at the Melbourne Community Stadium
Photo by Sara Day
Chelmsford City are now guaranteed a National League South play-off spot after other results went their way on Easter Monday, but their performance against Wealdstone was a very disappointing one as they were well beaten by a side who still have their own slim hopes of making the all important top seven places.
After an uneventful first quarter the game suddenly sprung into life in the 19th minute, when Chelmsford had a free-kick and Chris Whelpdale’s close range header was pushed away by Wealdstone goalkeeper Jonathan North, and North superbly stopped the resulting shot from Rhys Murphy.
Then just before the half hour mark Godfrey Poku had a great long range effort for Wealdstone, forcing a fine save from Clarets goalkeeper Nathan McDonald who did well to tip the ball over the bar.
But in the 33rd minute the Stones took the lead, when striker Daniel Green scored a superb volley into the top corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the Middlesex men.
City’s only other first half opportunity came a couple of minutes before half-time, when Jordan Chiedozie found an opening but Jerome Okimo and the impressive Poku combined to shut out the danger, and Wealdstone led at the interval.
Photo by Sara Day
Five minutes after the restart the visitors doubled their lead, when after a good spell of possession Tarryn Allarakhia fired a superb right footed volley from just outside the area to make it 2-0.
In the 56th minute things got even worse for Chelmsford, whe a Green cross for Wealdstone was turned into his own net by Clarets’ Adrian Cascaval past a stranded McDonald.
Whelpdale had a strike on target in the 65th minute but it was comfortably caught by North, and a Murphy effort sailed across the face of the goal six minutes later but City were struggling to break down their well organised opponents.
Allarakhia had a close range effort with seven minutes remaining after the home side had once again carelessly given away possession, and only the alertness of McDonald stopped the Stones from further extending their lead.
From a Chelmsford point of view this was a very disappointing performance, and one which ended any possibility of forcing their way into the league’s top three and therefore earning a bye straight into the play-off semi-finals. Clarets boss Rod Stringer will be pleased to have earned the possibility of promotion for the third season in a row, but will be well aware that his side will have to produce far superior displays to stand any chance of achieving their long cherished promotion to the summit of non-League football.
Chelmsford City: Nathan McDonald, Elliot Omozusi, Max Porter (C), Chez Isaac (Jonny Giles 53) Jordan Chiedozie (Anthony Church 53), Joe Anderson, Adrian Cascaval, Lamar Reynolds (Tom Wraight 53), Matthew Young, Rhys Murphy, Chris Whelpdale.
Wealdstone: Jonathan North, Rhys Tyler, Freddie Grant, Connor Stevens, Jerome Okimo (C), Godfrey Doku, Tarryn Allarakhza (David Pratt 84), Christian Smith, Stefan Brown (Jeffrey Monakana 90), Daniel Green, Simon Niemsah.
Attendance: 954
