Robbie Simpson’s Clarets held to a goalless draw against Dover, despite having chances throughout the tie
Early shouts for a penalty by the Claret Army as Blackwell made it in behind the Dover defence. He gets his cross away and appeared to be caught late, nothing given by the referee.
From the Blackwell cross, the ball came out to Ochieng who hit his strike well, but Nelson was equal to it and palmed the ball behind for a Claret corner.
Lodovica was the next Claret to bring City forward on the attack, his cross couldn’t find Blackwell. Dover’s clearance made it as far as Dunne who carried the ball forward into a sliding challenge, he went to ground, and the referee took Dunne’s name for his troubles.
A delightful ball from Da Costa tested the Dover defence who couldn’t clear, it went all the way through to Blackwell whose effort went high and wide. Clarets keeping the early pressure up.
James came close with an excellent solo effort as he caught the Dover man in possession on the halfway line, he burst forward and made his way into the box and forced the keeper into a save low at his near post.
Ejeheri was called into action as Baptiste fired the ball into the box, it looked as if it might’ve been heading on target, Ejeheri made sure and punched away.
The visitors came again as Krasniqi controlled Kandi’s cross but blazed his effort well over the City bar.
It was Chelmsford who had the next chance to break the deadlock, after some pinball, Nelson kept the game goalless with a fantastic save to deny Blackwell. Lodovica kept the ball in, and his effort combined with Yearn tried to keep the attack alive, but the visitors cleared.
A scrappier period toward the end of the half, as neither team creating much and both conceding needless freekicks but no keeper being tested.
Ruff pulls of a great bit of skill and bursts through on goal, he’s tracked the whole way and goes to ground, the referee has a good look and waves away Ruff’s claims.
HALF TIME: CHELMSFORD CITY FC 0-0 DOVER ATHLETIC
Ruff picked up the ball on the half-way line after latching onto a loose ball, he set Lodovica through, but his eventual effort didn’t trouble Nelson.
After another scrappy period of the game, it was the Clarets who fashioned the best chance of the half, Blackwell swung a dangerous ball into the box and it was met by James but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Another flurry of chances came the way of the Clarets, some excellent play from Blackwell, while riding a few challenges, saw him clip a ball to the back post where it was almost met by Yearn. The ball was recycled to James who forced Nelson into another smart stop.
Blackwell again caused problems coming forward after some delightful skill to get away from Higgs. As he broke away down the wing he was tracked by Higgs and Martin with the former hacking Blackwell to the floor and receiving a caution for his troubles.
The Visitors grew into the game after the hour mark as they began to ask questions of the Clarets defence, lots of opportunities created but not a lot being asked of Ejeheri.
A chance on the counter came next for Dover as Wanadio broke away on the left, he picked out Kandi who controlled well and knocked the ball into the path of Krasniqi whose effort was always rising.
Dover continued a period of dominance in the second half as they continued to come forward, the opportunity wasted by Wanadio who blazed his effort from a long way out well over the bar.
The Clarets fashioned a chance of their own as Dunne picked the ball up from Blackwell, his clipped cross flashed right across the face of goal as no one was there to turn it home at the back post.
Yearn fashioned a half chance for the Clarets as he picked up the ball from a half-cleared corner, he struck towards goal but one of the Dover heads in a crowd and out for another set piece, nothing comes from it.
A glorious opportunity came for the Clarets to break the deadlock, five minutes from time, a Yearn ball floated into the box finds Blackwell at the back who heads at goal. Dunne from what must’ve been 3 yards out heads over.
The Referee unhappy with something and after a conversation with the linesman, he brandished the Yellow Card to Clarets gaffer Simpson
Another golden chance fell to Dunne in added time, Jackson with the first effort saved well by Nelson. The rebound fell to Dunne just outside the Dover box and he put his effort wide of the target.
That Dunne effort was the last chance of the game as the referee drew a close to the game.
FULL TIME: CHELMSFORD CITY FC 0-0 DOVER ATHLETIC
Attendance: 881
Chelmsford City FC: Ejeheri (GK), James, Winfield (C), Yearn, Dunne, Lodovica (Jackson 77’), Blackwell, Da Costa (Yila 71’), Ochieng, Ruff (Trotter 59’), Terry
Unused Subs: Barnum-Bobb, Vaz
Bookings: Dunne (6’), Simpson (90’)
Dover Athletic: Nelson (GK), Paxman, Krasniqi, Moses, Goodman, Higgs, Wanadio, Martin (C), Wilkinson (Nikaj 59’), Kandi (Grant 86’), Baptiste
Unused subs: Green, Agbebl, Byford
Bookings: Moses (50’), Wilkinson (54’), Higgs (62’)
Match Report by Josh Verroken
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