Full time: Chelmsford City 0-1 Southend United
Chelmsford City fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Southend United in their final friendly of pre-season. Forward Josh Walker’s early first half goal made all the difference in a tight game at Melbourne Community Stadium, which saw both sides’ goalkeepers make a number of impressive stops throughout the duration of a warm afternoon of football in Essex.
Ted Collins made two strong saves to stop the Shrimpers from increasing their lead, whilst Southend United goalkeeper Collin Adeng-Ndi prevented Kalvin Kalala, Freddie Hockey, and Bradley Williams from equalising in the second period.
Like he did for Tuesday’s Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup final, Clarets boss Robbie Simpson selected a starting XI made up of ten first-team players and one trialist. Jack Turner, Sam Oguntayo, Callum Watts, and Kalvin Kalala were all brought into the City lineup after not featuring from the beginning or at all in Tuesday’s match.
The visitors begun the game brightly after making the 20-mile trip from Roots Hall to Melbourne, and took an early lead to show for their positive start when forward Josh Walker scored a 4th minute header. A long ball played by Oli Coker into the City penalty area found the head of Ollie Kensdale at the backpost – Kensdale guided the ball across goal and into the path of Walker, who was unable to miss from six-yards out.
Kevin Maher’s men nearly doubled their lead when striker Harry Cardwell latched on to a long pass played over the top of the Clarets’ backline. Finding himself one-against-one versus Ted Collins, Cardwell opted to chip the ball over the Chelmsford City goalkeeper, but his effort went the wrong side of the post and behind for a goal kick. Later on in the half, Walker was presented with a good opportunity to secure a brace when he burst through towards goal, but Collins made himself big and saved the opportunity with his chest.
Southend also started the second half strongly, and forced Collins into action once again in the 47th minute. Oli Coker got on the end of Walker’s pulled back cross and hit a fierce shot on target, which Collins smartly kept out of the net with the help of his right boot.
The Clarets began to show their attacking prowess as the second half progressed, with the first clear-cut City opportunity of the afternoon falling Kalvin Kalala’s way in the 52nd minute. Trialist A whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank which found Kalala at the back post, whose header was tipped over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net by Collin Adeng-Ndi.
10 minutes later, second half substitute Freddie Hockey nearly made an instant impact within 120 seconds of his introduction. The forward made a smart run in a crowded Southend penalty area, and then produced a shot from a tight angle which Adeng-Ndi saved well with his feet.
Adeng-Ndi was at it again in the 83rd minute and denied another Clarets substitute a goal, with what was arguably his most impressive stop of the afternoon. Ruaridh Donaldson did well on the ball in the middle of the park and played a pass into the path of 79th minute substitute Bradley Williams, who took a number of touches before producing a powerful effort which Adeng-Ndi saved with his fingertips. Adeng-Ndi’s stop rebounded into the path of Archie Tamplin, whose first-time shot towards goal cannoned off the side of the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.
With both goalkeepers stealing the show at Melbourne Community Stadium, the score remained in Southend’s favour and Walker’s solitary early goal meant that the Shrimpers were able to come away from their trip across Essex with a win. The referee’s full time whistle marked the end of the final friendly of Chelmsford City’s pre-season campaign; Robbie Simpson’s squad will now spend the next week preparing for their National League South curtain-raiser away at Slough Town on August 10th.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Trialist A, Turner (Bland 70’), Penney, Oguntayo; Watts (Williams 79’), Blackman (Tamplin 69’); Kalala (Trialist B 62’), Ruff © (Gilbey 88’), Donaldson; Hyde (Hockey 61’).
Attendance: 1941
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