Full-time: Waltham Abbey 1-3 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City produced a professional performance against Waltham Abbey to earn their spot in the semi-finals of the BBC Essex Senior Cup.
Jordan Greenidge’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Nathan Koranteng’s powerful strike from the edge of the box. However, Kalvin Kalala’s 15-minute brace restored the Clarets’ lead and gave City a two-goal advantage heading into half-time.
A professional second half performance from Robbie Simpson’s side saw them maintain their two-goal lead, although Turner and Kane Crichlow both squandered opportunities to further increase the scoreline.
Despite facing Step 4 opposition, City boss Simpson fielded a strong team at Capershotts on Tuesday night. Paul Appiah and Osman Foyo kept their places in the starting eleven from Saturday’s defeat against Hampton & Richmond, while the likes of Ted Collins, Turner and Kalala were all recalled into the matchday squad and starting XI for the Senior Cup quarter-final.
City started the game quickly and raced into a seventh-minute lead when Cambridge United loanee Glenn McConnell squared the ball to Greenidge in the penalty area. Greenidge kept his composure from close range and clinically finished past Waltham Abbey goalkeeper Bradley Robinson.
Greenidge’s goal drew a quick response from the hosts, who levelled five minutes later. A Waltham Abbey free kick, won on the edge of the Clarets’ penalty box, was rolled into the path of Koranteng. The winger produced a fierce first-time strike into the top corner of Ted Collins’ goal, which left the goalkeeper no chance of making a save.
The flurry of early goals at Capershotts continued 180 seconds later when Kalala scored for City in the 14th minute. The Frenchman displayed some nice skill while cutting inside from the left flank before having a shot at goal, which took a deflection that helped the effort past Robinson.
Robinson produced an impressive save in the 18th minute to deny Foyo a goal, tipping a powerful strike from the Ipswich Town loanee over the crossbar. However, he was unable to prevent Kalala from completing his brace seven minutes before half-time. The winger’s goal at the back post capped off a well-worked City passing move, which went from back to front, with McConnell playing the final pass of the move to set up Kalala and register his second assist of the game.
The Abbotts squandered the chance to halve City’s lead going into the break when former Claret Luke Deslandes fired a penalty over the crossbar. Deslandes stepped forward from 12 yards out after referee Jack Willmored spotted a foul inside the penalty area during the hosts’ final attack of the half. Deslandes was unable to keep his effort down and sent it out of the ground.
Simpson’s side produced a professional performance during the second half to see the game out and ensure their progress from the quarter-final tie. Midfielders Alfie Bendle and Archie Tamplin both tested Robinson with shots on target, but the Waltham Abbey keeper was equal to their efforts.
In the closing 15 minutes of the game, Turner and substitute Kane Crichlow were next to come close to scoring their side’s fourth goal of the night. However, goalkeeper Robinson was once again equal to the Clarets’ efforts and made a good stop to deny Crichlow after he went through on goal one-on-one.
Heybridge Swifts and National League South rivals Hornchurch have both progressed to the semi-finals of the Essex Senior Cup alongside City, although the final side in the draw is still undecided at the time of writing.
Waltham Abbey XI: Robinson (GK); Kamara, Koranteng, Spence (Laurent 64′), Mensah, Cathline (Robbins 46′), Deslandes (K Williams 88′), Bansal-McNulty (Brown 17′), Chiabi, Eyoma, Ntege (Hallett 61′).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Mensah, Kamara.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins; Williams, Appiah, Turner, Oguntayo; Bendle (Penney 15′), Tamplin; Foyo (Crichlow 65′), McConnell (Ruff 89′), Kalala (Bland 79′); Greenidge (Hyde 73′).
Unsure substitutes: none
Yellow cards: none.
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