CHELMSFORD CITY 3-0 BATH CITY | MATCH REPORT

Full-time: Chelmsford City 3-0 Bath City

Chelmsford City secured back-to-back National League South wins and the club’s first home victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, after beating Bath City 3-0 at the EMJ Community Stadium. Arthur Penney opened the scoring with a 31^st minute header, before late second half goals from Osman Foyo and Freddie Hockey allowed the Clarets to conclude the afternoon comfortably.

Robbie Simpson’s men started the game in Essex quickly – and both Foyo and captain Charlie Ruff were unlucky not to put City into an early lead inside the opening five minutes. Arthur Penney scored the game’s opening goal in the 31^st minute after he guided a looping header past Josey Casa-Grande.

Like they did during Tuesday’s 5-1 victory away at Maidstone United, Chelmsford City used the second half to put on a late show to secure their win. Goals scored by Foyo and Hockey in the 72^nd minute and 88^th minute respectively wrapped up another impressive victory for the Clarets.

Robbie Simpson made no changes to the team which started the midweek win at the Gallagher Stadium – meaning centre back Paul Appiah made his first start at the EMJ Community Stadium in Chelmsford City colours.

Romans boss Jerry Gill was forced to make one change to the Bath City side which beat Truro City in midweek. Goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards began a suspension following his red card against Hemel Hempstead last weekend, meaning Bristol City loanee Josey Casa-Grande started between the sticks, marking the first game of his second spell in a Bath shirt.

The Clarets made an electric start to the game on what was an overcast afternoon in Essex. Within the first minute of the match, Kalvin Kalala cut inside and squared the ball to Foyo on the right flank, who fired a shot over the crossbar. Foyo was involved again five minutes later and helped his side keep up their early pressure when his cutback cross found Charlie Ruff inside the Bath penalty box. Ruff hit the target with his first time strike, but Casa-Grande was equal to it and made his first stop of the day.

Bath City did little to trouble the Clarets in the first half, although Gill’s side responded well to their shaky start to the match and weathered the early Chelmsford City storm. Kalala proved to be a threat before City opened the scoring and the left winger forced Casa-Gande into another save in the 25^th minute.

The Clarets took the lead in the 31^st minute when Arthur Penney, who played as a central midfielder for the second game in a row, scored his first goal since signing for Chelmsford City in July. Penney rose above the defending Bath City players at the back post, and guided Ruaridh Donaldson’s floated cross past Casa-Grande with a looping header.

Jordan Greenidge came close to doubling the Clarets’ lead before half-time. Sam Oguntayo’s delivery across the box found Greenidge in the six-yard box, but the forward was unable to guide his effort on target and poked his shot a few inches over the crossbar.

Romans manager Gill introduced attacker Alex Fisher and midfielder Louis Sweeten at the beginning of the second half as he looked to increase his side’s threat going forward. Both teams however created few clear-cut chances in the early stages of the second period – until Foyo doubled the Clarets’ lead in the 72^nd minute.

Foyo was assisted by Kalvin Kalala, whose quick feet down the left-hand-side allowed him to get past Joe Raynes and then deliver a pinpoint cross to Foyo at the back post, who headed the ball clinically into the bottom corner of the net. Foyo’s header, which doubled City’s lead, also marked his fourth National League South goal in the space of a week.

Like they did at Maidstone on Tuesday, Robbie Simpson’s second half substitutions once again worked to full effect when the Clarets scored their third goal of the afternoon. Oguntayo’s delivery from the left flank found substitute Jake Hyde in the middle of the penalty area. Hyde’s header crashed off the crossbar, but the rebound fell invitingly to another second half substitute in Freddie Hockey who tapped the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Simpson and his squad were able to celebrate back-to-back National League South wins and the club’s first home victory of the season at full-time, ahead of a two-week break from league football with an away FA Cup second qualifying round clash scheduled to take place next weekend against Tilbury FC.

Celebrating back-to-back National League South wins and our first home victory of the season! 😍#ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/QBpLQ2kx55
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) September 7, 2024

Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Thorn, Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Donaldson, Penney (Dunne 90’), Ruff © (Hockey 85’); Foyo (Tamplin 88’), Kalala (Watts 85’), Greenidge (Hyde 69’).

Unused substitutes: none.

Yellow cards: Gale, Ruff, Appiah.

Bath City XI: Casa-Grande (GK), Raynes (Russe 76’), Greenslade, Parselle, Wanjau-Smith, Humphrey-Ewers (Alves 64’), Clark (Sweeten 46’), Frear (Fisher 46’), Tillson, Phillips.

Unused substitutes: Sardo (GK).

Yellow cards: none.

Match Officials: Issac Searle (Referee), Joseph Karram (1^st Assistant), Mario Stetakovic (2^nd Assistant), Thomas Whay (Fourth Official).

Attendance: 877