Improved performance but City still pointless

City produced a much improved defensive performance but are still looking for their first point of the 2017-18 season after a late penalty gave Chelmsford City a 2-1 win at Twerton Park this afternoon. Gary Owers made four changes and a formation switch following the heavy defeat against Chippenham Town and his new-look side got off to the perfect start when Ryan Case’s shot from the edge of the box put them in front after just five minutes. The visitors went on to enjoy the majority of possession during the first half but only ever looked to threaten City’s backline from a series of long-throws – one ending up in the net but not before the linesman had flagged for offside. Two big decisions went each side’s way before the interval. City keeper Luke Southwood collected a long ball forward right on the edge of the box where the perfectly placed linesman viewed he hadn’t touched it outside the area – despite long and vocal complaints from the fans who had travelled down to Somerset. Then West deliberately jumped into Frankie Artus, leading with his shoulder, but incredibly escaped with just a yellow card. Within six minutes of the restart the Clarets levelled when a neat move down the left ended with Oyenuga driving the ball past Southwood. Neither side could get control of the game after this but it was the Essex side who grabbed the winning goal 15 minutes from time. Marvin Morgan and Spillane chased a ball across the box and the latter went to ground. The referee viewed this as a foul and Barnard made no mistake from the penalty spot.