Full-time: Chelmsford City 0-0 Hemel Hempstead Town
Chelmsford City extended their unbeaten run to six matches at the EMJ Community Stadium after playing out a stalemate against Hemel Hempstead Town on Monday night.
Tudors shot-stopper Craig King was the busiest of the two goalkeepers, but neither King nor his counterpart Ted Collins were tested regularly throughout the cold evening in Essex.
Clarets forward Finley Wilkinson had the game’s best chances during the first half. However, the Barnet loanee was unable to find the back of the net to put his side in front.
Wilkinson’s introduction to the team represented one of two changes to the eleven which started Saturday’s 4-3 win at Farnborough. Wilkinson took Jake Hyde’s place up front and started as City’s lone centre forward, while Jacob Bland played on the right wing instead of Nico Valentine.
Bland and Wilkinson both looked lively early on and combined twice within the opening 20 minutes. Hemel struggled to clear Bland’s delivery across the face of goal in the 9th minute, which eventually dropped to Wilkinson. However, Wilkinson poked his effort just over the crossbar from close range. Nine minutes later, Bland delivered another ball from the right flank, which this time found Wilkinson at the back post. Wilkinson’s header was straight at King.
King denied Wilkinson in the 25th minute with a good stop after Kane Crichlow’s knockdown found the forward’s run. The 22-year-old beat the offside trap and had only King to beat. However, the Tudors’ shot-stopper remained alert and made himself big to save Wilkinson’s shot on target.
Wilkinson was fed by full-back Sam Oguntayo’s cross from the left-hand side in the 34th minute but was unable to connect with the dangerous delivery despite being at full stretch.
Hemel forced Collins into an impressive save on the cusp of half-time when he kept out Tudors’ captain Kyle Ajayi from scoring. A marauding run forward from Ajayi culminated in him heading an inswinging cross from the left on target, which Collins athletically dived across goal to keep out before the assistant referee raised his flag to signal an offside offence.
There were fewer chances for both sides in the second half, with the legs of both sets of players growing weary as they played their second game in just over 48 hours. Charlie Ruff came closest to breaking the deadlock with a 73rd minute header from inside the penalty box. King comfortably saved the Chelmsford City vice-captain’s effort, though, as it was straight at him.
After settling for a point against the Tudors, Robbie Simpson’s side climbed one place in the National League South standings and now sit 11th. The Clarets are next in action when they travel to Salisbury on Saturday.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Barnum-Bobb (Edwards 80′), Rye, Barbrook, Oguntayo (Donaldson 75′); Blackman, Tamplin; Bland, Ruff (C) (Kalala 84′), Crichlow; Wilkinson (Penney 75′).
Unused substitutes: Appiah
Yellow cards: Blackman 74′
Hemel Hempstead Town XI: King (GK); Hamstead, Ogungbo, Ajayi (C), Tompkins, Pybus (Achuba 80′), Williams (Brosnan 89′), Wiltshire, Iaciofano (McKeown 64′), White (Smith 86′), Barzey.
Unused substitutes: Light.
Yellow cards: Pybus 69′
Match officials: Tommy Breen (Referee), Sam Wiggington (Assistant Referee), Joe Gray (Assistant Referee), Lee Markwick (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 518
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