Full-time: Chelmsford City 0-0 Maidstone United
Chelmsford City battled hard to earn a point at home against Maidstone United on a windy Monday night in Essex.
Both teams had to contend with the difficult weather conditions at the EMJ Community Stadium throughout the evening. However, George Elokobi’s side were handed an advantage in the 40th minute when Chelmsford City forward Jordan Greenidge was shown a straight red card.
Despite having a numerical boost for over half of the game, the visitors were unable to capitalise on their extra player and rarely troubled City goalkeeper Ted Collins. Collins and his defence dealt admirably with Maidstone and Mother Nature’s attempts to cause them problems, and manager Simpson praised his team’s spirit and resilience after the game.
Ahead of kick-off, Simpson made seven changes to the starting XI that had faced Eastbourne Borough just over 48 hours earlier. With squad rotation necessary, Paul Appiah, Sam Oguntayo, Archie Tamplin, Ryan Blackman, Charlie Ruff, Jake Hyde and Greenidge all came into the team.
City enjoyed the better of the play before their 40th-minute red card but were unable to create clear-cut openings, with the strong breeze towards the covered end of the EMJ Community Stadium affecting their ability to find the final pass in dangerous areas.
Referee Tom Ellsmore’s decision to send off Greenidge before half-time turned the game on its head as the Clarets were reduced to 10 men. Greenidge was shown a red card following an off-the-ball incident with Maidstone centre-back Temi Eweka.
The Stones tried to apply pressure in the second half to make their advantage count, but many of their shots failed to trouble Collins and were off target. When the former Colchester United goalkeeper was called into action, he confidently dealt with the set pieces and high deliveries which Elokobi’s men fired into the Clarets’ penalty area.
After seeing the game out to earn a point, City can now look ahead to Saturday’s game against Chesham United, which will also take place at the EMJ Community Stadium.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Rye, Appiah, Barbrook; Barnum-Bobb (Wilkinson 46′), Blackman (Penney 80′), Tamplin, Oguntayo (Edwards 76′); Ruff (Bland 85′), Greenidge, Hyde (Crichlow 71′).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Blackman 28′, Rye 49′, Simpson 86′
Red card: Greenidge 40′
Maidstone United XI: Andre Jr (GK); Eweka, Brookes, Greenidge, Fowler, Higgs (C), Blair, Seaman (Brown 90+5′), Johnson (Coulthirst 70′), Gurung (Trusty 90+3′), German (Wanjau-Smith 66′).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: none
Match officials: Tom Ellsmore (Referee), Maros Valko (Assistant Referee), Nick Reece (Assistant Referee), Paul Stratton (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 771