City left empty-handed from long Essex trip

City mixed start to the 24/25 season continued this afternoon as they were beaten 3-0 by Chelmsford City at the Melbourne Stadium. The home side dominated the first period and should have been further ahead than a single goal at half-time. City improved after the break but two further goals completed a straightforward win for the Clarets.

Foyo wasted a clear opening in the first minute before Josey Casa-Grande produced an excellent stop to deny Ruff four minutes later. Chelmsford continued to control the game with Jack Batten clearing Foyo’s 16th minute hooked shot off the line. However, their composure in front of goal was failing to match their approach play and City looked to have withstood this early onslaught. On 31 minutes though the deadlock was broken when a far post cross was headed home by Penny. Several further chances came and went for the Clarets, the best of these in the final minute of the half when Greenidge somehow how blazed over the bar from a few yards out.

A double change at the break – Alex Fisher and Louis Sweeten replacing Elliott Frear and Ewan Clark – and formation switch saw a much more even second half. Sol Wanjau-Smith shot narrowly wide from a Fisher flick-on within two minutes of the restart and the hosts were finding chances much harder to come by. On 70 minutes the ball dropped perfectly for Jordan Tillson but his curling shot flew just the wrong side of the post with keeper Collins well-beaten. Two minutes later Chelmsford doubled their lead as Kalala crossed for Foyo to head past Casa-Grande. Sweeten then forced a fingertip save from Collins and Wanjau-Smith has a goal-bound shot blocked by Oguntayo but it was the Essex side who completed the scoring two minutes from time when Hockey netted after Hyde’s header came back off the bar.