Full-time: Chelmsford City 1-2 Enfield Town
Chelmsford City fell to a narrow defeat to Enfield Town at the EMJ Community Stadium in the club’s penultimate home game of the 2024–25 campaign.
The Clarets’ afternoon started positively when Charlie Ruff put his side in front in the 28th minute. Despite making a successful challenge on Archie Tamplin, Towners goalkeeper Joe Wright paid the price for coming off his line to dispossess the midfielder, as Ruff kept his cool to score while Wright watched on from behind.
Enfield responded well to going behind though and produced an impressive second half showing. Midfielder Bayley Brown equalised in the 50th minute with a clinical finish across goal. Jack Bates then put his side in front with 15 minutes to go when he broke through on goal and cleverly slotted the ball through Ted Collins’ legs and into the back of the net.
The hosts fielded the same starting XI that started last week’s 1–0 away win against Chippenham Town. City’s matchday squad was strengthened by the returns of Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and Ryan Blackman to the substitutes’ bench.
The Clarets drew first blood when Ruff scored his 12th goal of the season in the 28th minute. The goal stemmed from Tamplin’s run in-behind the Enfield backline, which forced Towners goalkeeper Joe Wright to come off his line and make a clearance. Wright’s clearance dropped to Kane Crichlow, who squared the ball to Ruff inside the penalty area. With Wright still out of position, Ruff kept his composure despite being surrounded by three Enfield defenders and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Enfield responded well to going behind but were unable to create a clear-cut chance in the final 15 minutes of the first period. Clarets centre back Paul Appiah was particularly important in nullifying the Towners in front of goal, making a number of crucial last-ditch interventions to prevent Enfield shots.
However, the City defence were unable to prevent Brown from equalising five minutes into the second half. The towering midfielder produced a clinical finish after the ball dropped his way on the edge of the box. Brown controlled the ball and fired a low shot across goal which found the bottom corner of Collins’ net.
Gavin Macpherson’s side had their tails up after drawing level and took the lead for the first time in the game 26 minutes after Brown’s leveller. Bates capitalised on a City error at the back and was left one-on-one with Collins and went on to score after he slotted the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the goal.
Chelmsford City, who were led on the day by assistant manager Mickey Spillane due to the absence of Robbie Simpson, nearly found a way back into the game when Crichlow had the ball in the net in the 85th minute. Appiah’s long-range effort took a deflection which fell invitingly to Crichlow, who made no mistake and slotted the ball past Wright. Unfortunately for Crichlow, the assistant referee raised his flag and judged the Bermudian to have been offside prior to scoring.
Spillane used all five substitutes on the warm Saturday afternoon and handed a senior debut to academy player Jack Camina, but the Clarets were unable to find an equaliser and came away from the game empty-handed.
The Clarets head across Essex to face already-relegated Aveley next week in what will be both clubs’ third-from-last game of the season.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Bland (Camina 90+1’), Appiah, Donaldson, Oguntayo; Mupomba (Barnum-Bobb 70’), Tamplin (Blackman 55’); Valentine, Ruff (C) (Hayes 83’), Crichlow; Akanbi (Hockey 55’).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Spillane 62’, Appiah 68’
Enfield Town XI: Wright (GK); Bates (Sidwell 86’), Benjamin, Peake (Kasimu 83’), Youngs, Dillon (Oyenuga 83’), Leonard, Brown, Hawkins, Stallard, Parcell (C).
Unused substitutes: Chukwu, Knight
Yellow cards: Stallard 22’, Dillon 80’
Match Officials: Harrison Blair (Referee), Ryan Chantrill-Smith (Assistant Referee), Andrew Crossley (Assistant Referee), Andrew Tregoning (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 929
by