National League South
CHELMSFORD CITY 2 DORKING WANDERERS 2
JOHN CHUBB at The Melbourne Community Stadium
Photo by Sara Day
Chelmsford City shared the honours with Dorking Wanderers in what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining first ever encounter between the two clubs.
Dorking, who were the Isthmian Premier League champions last season have adjusted well to life at non-League step two, going into this match in seventh place.
Clarets manager Rod Stringer – whose side started the day in 10th place – included new signing Leroy Lita among his substitutes.
The vastly experienced former England Under-21 international, whose career has included spells in the Premier League with Reading and Swansea City signed a short-term contract on Friday.
It transpired that this was Carl Pentney’s last game for the club, Stringer revealing to me after the match that the goalkeeper has opted to take up a full-time coaching position at Ipswich Town.
Stringer’s opposite number Marc White included ex-Billericay Town midfielder Luke Moore in his starting line-up.
And it was White’s team who had the first shot on goal very early in the match after Matt Briggs set up James McShane, but his effort was gathered comfortably by Carl Pentney.
Chelmsford’s first real chances came on the quarter of an hour mark, when Sam Higgins and Adrian Cascaval narrowly missed efforts originating from Chez Isaac’s free-kick.
A few minutes later Pentney was called into action at the other end, as he chested away a shot from Dorking’s Jack Barham.
The home side had a big shout for a penalty with 27 minutes played, when Dave Winfield appeared to be brought to the floor by Ed Harris but referee Jack Packman saw no infringement and Dorking were awarded a goal-kick.
Then on the half hour City forward Sam Higgins cleverly laid the ball into the path of Frazer Shaw, who had made a marauding run down the left and had a shot which sailed agonisingly just wide of Dorking keeper Slaovmir Huk.
Then moments later another Chelmsford attack saw a Jonny Giles cross find Shaun Jeffers at the far post, and Huk stopped his header well.
Dave Winfield also had a chance from the resulting corner with his head, but it hit the deck and bounced over the bar.
Chelmsford continued to push, and in the 38th minute Higgins had a scorching free-kick stopped well by Huk.
But a minute later the big striker put the Clarets in front from close range to make it 1-0.
Photo by Sara Day
After a first half in which the Clarets had the edge and had earned their half-time lead, Dorking regrouped for the second half making two substitutions at the restart.
And they levelled the scores eight minutes later with a stunning goal which pretty much came from nowhere.
Sam Beard let fly with a scorcher of a strike from at least 35 yards out, which Pentney had virtually no chance of stopping and it was 1-1.
Then disaster struck for Chelmsford a minute before the hour mark.
Tom Richards, one of Dorking’s two half-time substitutes unleashed a looping shot from the left, which Pentney appeared to attempt to tip over the bar.
But the Clarets custodian completely lost his footing and the ball sailed over his head into the net, to put Wanderers 2-1 in the lead.
Pentney did however make an excellent stop from close range on 73 minutes, when Dorking almost made it 3-1 via Barham.
And City found a way back into the match with only four minutes remaining.
Tom Knowles – who had replaced Higgins on 64 minutes – was on the receiving end of a tough tackle by Beard to the right of the penalty area.
Referee Packman awarded a free-kick which was taken by another substitute, Billy Knott who had replaced Chez Isaac with 14 minutes to go.
The ball sailed into the penalty area and was bundled home by Shaun Jeffers for the equaliser.
And as the game entered time added on Jeffers had another opportunity – this time with his head – but it was well over the bar and therefore caused Huk no problems.
Then Dorking won a corner which resulted in a shot being cleared off the line, although some of the visiting contingent claimed it was over.
Then Knowles went running straight down the other end and released a left-footed shot which just sailed to the left of Huk and past the post.
Chelmsford City (Manager: Rod Stringer): Carl Pentney, Eliot Omozusi, Frazer Shaw, Anthony Church ©, Adrian Cascaval, Dave Winfield, Shaun Jeffers, Jonny Giles, Sam Higgins (Tom Knowles 64), Chris Whelpdale (Leroy Lita 64), Chez Isaac (Billy Knott 76).
Dorking Wanderers (Manager: Marc White): Slavomir Huk, Isaac Philpot, Sam Beard, Ed) Harris, Niall McManus, Jack Barham, James McShane (Tom Richards 46), Jake Gallagher (Dan Gallagher 67), Matt Briggs, Luke Moore, Giuseppe Sole (Jimmy Muitt 46).
Attendance: 1,001
After the game I spoke with Chelmsford manager Rod Stringer, who told me he clearly saw this result in terms of two points dropped rather than one gained.
“I look at the positives and I look at the way we played….at the end (Tom) Knowles has nearly won it for us, we’ve had to change the system and I thought the system we went with today we went really well with”, he said.
“I really see lots of positives….but it’s been the story of my season that we’re dominating games and I’m watching teams score goals that I’ve never seen!
“I feel for the boys, because they’re overworking….we’re having to overwork from the dugouts because we have to try and then change to get (ourselves) back in the game, and that’s a gamble because you can come unstuck going with three at the back, but that’s what we’ve had to do and we’ve had to do it for a long time”.
Stringer was pleased with the contribution of debutant Leroy Lita, who took part in the final 26 minutes of the match.
“I thought he was excellent….he’s going to get better as games go on….he knows himself he should have scored when he managed to get a swivel in the box, but maybe when he freshens himself up and gets sharper they go in”.
The Clarets manager also confirmed that he is now looking to sign a new goalkeeper as this was goalkeeper Carl Pentney’s last game for Chelmsford, the 30-year-old having been offered a full-time coaching post at Ipswich Town.
Referring to Pentney’s error for Dorking’s second goal he said, “Obviously it’s a sad one for him to end on that note….we wish him all the best”.
