Full-time: Billericay Town 2-3 Chelmsford City
Sam Gale’s first Chelmsford City goal helped the Clarets to a 3-2 victory over Billericay Town on Tuesday night.
City went into a two-goal lead in the opening 23 minutes of the match when Jordan Greenidge and Osman Foyo both scored first half goals. The hosts responded well to going behind and went into half-time level after Decarrey Sheriff and Ade Azeez found the back of the net in the closing stages of the opening forty-five minutes.
Gale restored City’s lead in the 55th minute with a driving run from the halfway line that culminated in him having a shot on target, which Blues goalkeeper Sam Donkin accidently spilt into his own net, handing Chelmsford City their goal of the night. The Clarets saw out the game comfortably to secure their spot in the hat for the quarter final draw of the Essex Senior Cup.
Robbie Simpson named a strong City side for the trip to New Lodge and made four changes from his side’s previous game against Worthing. Ted Collins, Paul Appiah, Bradley Williams and Glenn McConnell came into the side to replace Woody Williamson, Cameron James, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and Archie Tamplin.
The Clarets started the match positively and took the lead in the 10th minute. McConnell set up Greenidge with a low ball across the box, and the striker guided his close-range effort past Donkin for his second goal in as many games.
Simpson’s side continued their early dominance and doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute. Bradley Williams’ quick free kick eventually found Foyo, who cut inside from the right flank and curled a fine effort into the top corner of the hosts’ goal, leaving Donkin with no chance.
Gary McCann’s side produced a strong response to going two goals behind and levelled the scoreline ahead of half-time. Sheriff pulled one back in the 30th minute when he capitalised on City’s failure to clear a corner. The forward volleyed his shot from inside the penalty box into the bottom corner of Collins’ goal. The hosts equalized just before the break when Azeez bundled in Montel McKenzie’s shot from close range after the Clarets struggled to clear the danger.
City started the second half better than they ended the first half and restored their lead in the 55th minute of the match. Centre back Gale restored his side’s lead in the 55th minute with a driving run from the halfway line into the penalty area, which finished with a shot on target. Gale had surged past Jay Porter and unleashed a shot on goal from 10-yards out, which Blues goalkeeper Donkin initially claimed but then dropped, with the ball slipping underneath him and into the back of the net. Gale’s goal marked his first strike in a Chelmsford City shirt since he signed for the club in August.
City successfully stifled Billericay’s efforts to equalise in the final 30 minutes of the match, which meant the Clarets avoided a penalty shootout and confirmed their place in the quarter finals of the Essex Senior Cup.
Billericay Town XI: Donkin (GK); McKenzie, Panton, Johnson (Bender 46’), Porter, Steward, Janneh (Ashbourne 83’), Krasniqi (Miller-Rodney 72’), Sheriff, Keller, Azeez (Kelman 46’) Mukuna 65’).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: none.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Williams, Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Bendle, Bland (James 88’), Ruff (Tamplin 46’), McConnell (Crichlow 46’); Foyo (Kalala 73’), Greenidge (Dunne 88’).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Bland
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