Full-time: Chelmsford City 1-2 Worthing
Chelmsford City came away from Saturday’s game against Worthing empty-handed after Nicky Wheeler’s added-time goal earned the Rebels maximum points.
The visitors had the edge at half-time thanks to forward Temi Babalola’s 45th minute goal. City restored parity early in the second half when Charlie Ruff converted a free kick awarded following a foul that saw defender Cam Tutt get shown a second yellow card.
However, the Clarets were unable to capitalise on their man advantage, and Chris Agutter’s side earned a late win when Wheeler found the back of the net with low a shot from the edge of the box.
Robbie Simpson was able to recall Nico Valentine to the matchday squad and brought the winger in from the start in place of Frankie Edwards. Valentine’s inclusion was the only change to the starting XI from Tuesday’s game against Boreham Wood.
The returning Valentine caused Worthing defender Tutt problems throughout the match. Tutt was handed the first yellow card of the afternoon in the 16th minute when he hauled down the Ipswich Town loanee after being beaten for pace.
For long periods of the first half, City looked the more likely side to open the scoring. Archie Tamplin tested Lucas Covolan with a long-range effort in the 27th minute, while Kane Crichlow headed Joe Rye’s free kick just wide of goal four minutes later. Clarets forward Jordan Greenidge held off two Worthing defenders on the edge of the penalty area and squared the ball across goal in the 33rd minute to Ruff, who was unable to get his shot on target from around 10 yards out.
Despite rarely troubling Clarets goalkeeper Ted Collins in the first half, the visitors went in at half-time in front. The Clarets failed to clear a Worthing corner, and Babalola capitalised, bundling the ball into the net after latching onto a pass across goal.
At the start of the second half, Tutt’s difficult afternoon against Valentine resumed and culminated in him being shown a red card inside the first five minutes of the second period. Tutt was beaten for pace by Valentine once again and brought the winger down, which resulted in him seeing a second yellow card from referee Lewis Smith.
City equalised from the resulting free kick when Ruff stepped forward and bent his effort around the Worthing wall and into the bottom corner of Covolan’s goal.
Despite having a numerical advantage, Simpson’s side struggled to take control of the game, which ultimately saw Worthing prove their title-winning credentials. The visitors nearly regained the lead in the 69th minute when a goalmouth scramble inside the City penalty area saw Archie Tamplin clear a shot off the line. Moments later, substitute Danny Cashman got on the end of a dangerous cross and headed on target, but Collins made a sharp save down to his right to keep the score level.
Both managers utilised their substitutes in the closing stages of the match which resulted in an open end to the game. In the end, it was Agutter’s side who grabbed maximum points in the sixth minute of added time, when Wheeler cut inside from the left and beat Collins with a low shot at the near post.
The late defeat leaves City 12th in the National League South table ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Dorking Wanderers.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Barnum-Bobb (Edwards 75’), Rye, Barbrook, Oguntayo (Akanbi 75’); Tamplin (Bland 84’), Penney (Donaldson 84’); Valentine, Ruff (C) (Wilkinson 80’), Crichlow, Greenidge
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Bland 90+5’
Worthing XI: Covolan (GK); Colbran (C) Cook, Tutt, Spong, Wheeler, Babalola (Faal 84’), Rea, Packham, Martin-Sorondo, Nash (Cashman 68’).
Unused substitutes: Willard, Haigh, Carvalho,
Yellow cards: Rea 63’, Wheeler 69’, Colbran 86’
Red card: Tutt 48’
Match Officials: Lewis Smith (Referee), Nicoleta Bria (Assistant Referee), Harry Phillips (Assistant Referee), Toby Carlisle (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 992
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