Barnet V Chelmsford City, FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying, The Hive London, Saturday 12th October 2024, 3:00pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City travel to north London this weekend to lock horns with National League leaders Barnet in a FA Cup fourth round qualifying clash.
Saturday’s game will see the Clarets and the Bees battle for a place in the FA Cup first round, as both sides resume an FA Cup rivalry which has seen the clubs meet four times in the competition during the last 10 years.
Barnet were the highest ranked team in the fourth round qualifying draw, after National League teams entered the hat alongside sides from Step 2 and below of non-league who have reached this stage of the competition.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game…
Team & match stats:
- Dean Brennan’s side have a 100% record so far at home this season (P7, W7).
- The outcomes of the two previous FA Cup ties between both clubs have both been determined by a replay.
- City are winless in their last four FA cup clashes against the Bees (D2, L2).
Opposition:
Saturday’s hosts have enjoyed an emphatic start to the 2024-25 campaign. Dean Brennan’s side sit top of the National League by a three-point margin having won 10 of the 13 National League games which they have completed since the season kicked off in August.
Forward Callum Stead and midfielder Zak Brunt have been influential for the Bees so far in 24-25 and will be ones to watch this weekend, should manager Brennan elect to field a full-strength team in his side’s first FA Cup clash of the season. Stead and Brunt have been involved in a combined 14 goals for Barnet this season in the National League; this tally accounts for half of the Bees’ 28 league goals scored so far.
In addition to the form of Stead and Brunt, Barnet’s impeccable home form is another reason behind their impressive opening two months of 24-25. If Robbie Simpson’s Clarets wish to progress to the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday, then they will be required to end Barnet’s 100% record at the Hive London and breach a defence which has only conceded four home goals so far this campaign.
Former City defender Ade Oluwo has been a mainstay in the Bees’ backline. Oluwo has marked the beginning of his second season at the Hive London by starting in 10 of Barnet’s 13 league games in 24-25. The 24-year-old made 85 appearances in Claret during his three seasons playing under Robbie Simpson, and could be set to face his former club in a competitive game on Saturday for the first time since his departure from the EMJ Community Stadium in 2023.
This weekend’s game will also mark the first time that the Clarets and the Bees have competitively met since locking horns in the FA Cup first round two seasons ago. Charlie Ruff struck late on at the Hive London to take the tie to a replay at the EMJ Community Stadium, which Brennan’s Barnet side ran out of as 1-0 winners in front of a crowd of 3,015. Highlights of the draw at the Hive London can be seen below.
Team News:
Ryan Blackman is set to remain absent. Following last week’s win over Eastbourne Borough, Robbie Simpson confirmed in his post-match interview that defender Cameron James has returned to full training, while Geofrey Okonkwo is continuing to get nearer to a return to action.
Simpson also used his post-match interview to confirm that midfielder Callum Watts has departed the club. Everyone at Chelmsford City thanks Callum for his efforts in a Claret shirt and wishes him and his family well for the future.
Matchday & ticketing information:
Chelmsford City supporters can click here to buy their match tickets for this weekend’s game. The ticket office at the Hive London will be selling tickets in-person on matchday from 1.30pm, but please note it is card or contactless payment only.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- Adult – £15
- Concessions (Under-21s and 65+) – £10
- Under-17s – £5
- Under-12s – £3
FA Cup rules:
If the scores are level after 90 minutes on Saturday, then there will be no extra-time and a replay will be held at the EMJ Community Stadium on Monday 14th October at 7:45pm. Ticketing information would be announced in due course following Saturday’s game.
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at the Hive London.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of proceedings in London by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
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