Full-time: Maldon & Tiptree 1–4 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City recorded their first win of pre-season after comfortably overcoming Maldon & Tiptree at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium.
Angelo Harrop’s side came out of the blocks quickly in their third friendly in a seven days, and were rewarded for their fast start when Josh Hedges converted Harry Barbrook’s delivery to score the Clarets’ first goal of the 2025/26 campaign.
The hosts equalised in the 39th minute when forward Gary Hooper capitalised on a Clarets mistake at the back, but City quickly restored their lead before the interval. Corners delivered by Ricky Holmes allowed Barbrook and Ben Tompkins to put City 3–1 up at half-time.
In the second period, both managers made a number of changes which led to a less fluid game, although Josh Castiglione still got on the scoresheet for the first time since returning to the club. He slotted an effort into the bottom corner with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Harrop made only one change to the side that started against a QPR XI at the weekend, with Ben Tompkins replacing David Longe-King as Joe Grimwood’s centre back partner.
As in their opening two friendlies, Harrop’s men flew out of the blocks, with Taylor Clark, Holmes and Jack Barham all having shots inside the opening 10 minutes. The latter forced a good save from Jammers goalkeeper Elliot Justham. The Clarets’ pressure paid off moments later when Hedges netted the opening goal of pre-season after converting Barbrook’s delivery across the six-yard box.
Hedges nearly doubled his tally moments later when Barham picked up a loose pass from former Claret Cameron James. The forward squared the ball past Justham and into Hedges’ path for what looked like a certain tap-in, but the former Salisbury man was denied by a brilliant last-ditch challenge from a Jammers defender.
The hosts’ 39th-minute equaliser came against the run of play and was gifted to former Celtic striker Hooper. City goalkeeper Chris Haigh attempted to control a loose backpass but was undone by a bobble, which allowed Hooper to score easily from close range despite Haigh’s efforts to recover.
City responded swiftly and regained the lead within two minutes. Holmes registered his first assist since returning to the club by delivering an accurate corner to the back post, where Barbrook rose highest to head into the top corner.
Another Holmes corner caused more problems in the 43rd minute. His delivery was met by Hedges, whose header was palmed away by Justham. The rebound fell kindly to Tompkins, who poked the ball home to give the Clarets a 3–1 lead at the break.
Harrop made fewer half-time changes than in recent pre-season outings, although four trialists were introduced at the break. The Clarets nearly made a perfect start to the second half when Clark went close with an audacious effort from distance, however his curling shot crashed off the crossbar.
The game was delayed by around 10 minutes early in the second half after Maldon & Tiptree man Ollie Fraser went down and had to be stretchered off following treatment.
Further substitutions and the delay contributed to a stop-start second half, but City added a fourth late on. Trialist E won the ball high up the pitch and found substitute Castiglione, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of Justham’s net.
Chelmsford City are back in action for the fourth time in pre-season when National League outfit, and last season’s National League North champions, Brackley Town, visit the EMJ Community Stadium on Saturday. Get your tickets here.
Chelmsford City first half XI: Haigh (GK); Ronan, Tompkins, Grimwood, Barbrook; Odusanya, Clark; Holmes, Hedges, Corbett; Barham.
Chelmsford City second half XI: Trialist A (GK); 21 Trialist B, Tompkins, Grimwood (Longe-King 71’), Barbrook (Ward 71’); Odusanya (Trialist E 71’), Clark; (Torres 90’), Holmes (Murphy 71’), Hedges (Castiglione 71’), Trialist C; Trialist D.
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