10-man City go down to narrow Chelmsford defeat

Despite playing the whole second half with ten men City almost grabbed an unlikely point at Chelmsford City this afternoon. The pivotal moment came just before half-time when Robbie Cundy pulled back Murphy as he set to shoot just inside the box. He received a straight red card and Murphy netted the resultant penalty, which turned out to the only goal of the game. The first half had been an even encounter up to that point with both sides creating sights of goal, although Ryan Clarke was probably the slightlier busier of the two keepers. Despite being a man down a strong run by Adam Mann shortly after the restart showed City’s intent to keep pushing forward, although on 52 minutes they were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men when Clarke felled Murphy as he looked to burst into the box. the keeper escaping with just a booking. Not surprisingly with extra room afforded them in the City half, the home side created several clear-cut chances but lacked the composure in front of goal to extend their lead. The worse miss was when Fenwick somehow shot wide from 6 yards out ten minutes from time and this allowed to City to give them a number of nervous moments. A long Joe Raynes throw was deflected over the bar by a Clarets defender before Andy Watkins low shot was tipped around the post by McDonald, although the referee awarded a goal kick. He further frustrated City when he failed to play advantage, blowing up for a free-kick for a foul on Mann seconds before Raynes’ shot found the net via the post with McDonald well-beaten. Rigg also saw another free-kick strike the outside of the post before City’s final chance fell to substitute John Mills in the closing minutes but he could only direct a header wide from Mann firmly struck cross.