City finish home campaign with thumping win! Match report from the Melbourne Stadium by Oli Headington.
Two goals from Jermaine Francis and another from Charlie Ruff were the difference as Chelmsford City beat Tonbridge Angels 3-0 at the Melbourne Community Stadium.
Chelmsford began this clash with some brilliant footwork from Francis to displace Angels’ left back Jernade Meade, before the ball found Samir Carruthers who failed to beat the keeper.
It wasn’t before long when Carruthers had another sight of goal, as he tried his luck from 25 yards out, however his shot sailed over the crossbar.
First chance for the visitors came after the Clarets failed to deal with a set piece which then left Sean Shields with a sight of the Chelmsford goal, but he failed to hit the target.
Jazzi Barnum-Bobb then found himself in a pocket of space on the right flank, where he then played an infield pass to Francis who tried to work a cross shot however narrowly missed the far post.
The best chance of the first quarter fell Chelmsford’s way, a smartly worked corner delivery from Ben Brookes and Francis saw it fall at the feet of Dave Winfield who narrowly missed.
Following the interval, a whipped cross from Barnum-Bobb fell to Carruthers however retreating Jamie Fielding did enough to see the shot over the goal.
Shortly afterwards, Carruthers was involved again as he played the ball into the feet of Ruff who then found Freddie Hockey before it ended up at the feet of Francis who finished into an empty net to put the Clarets 1 up.
Proceedings then began to run in the Clarets favour, as Robbie Simpson’s side stamped their authority on the game.
Charlie Ruff played a threaded ball through to Hockey who had acres of space around him, however seemed to be a bit too wide into the box and the attack was nullified by the recovering Angels defence.
Ruff kept pulling the strings as he laid a free kick off to Brookes who looked to find the top left corner from miles out yet was marginally off target.
His contributions were eventually rewarded as he latched onto the ball following a corner by Brookes to convert inside the six-yard box, his 20th of the season.
Just as spectators started to make their way to the exits, a mistake by Angels’ keeper Jonny Henly saw him dispossessed by Francis who then netted his 10th goal of the campaign.
A convincing 3-0 win in the final home fixture of the season for the Clarets, up next awaits a trip to Chippenham, before Chelmsford begin their Vanarama National League South playoffs campaign.
Chelmsford City FC: Marsden (GK); Brookes, Winfield, Jenkins, Barnum-Bobb; Francis, Watts, Ruff (89’), Ochieng, Carruthers (72’); Hockey (72’).
Substitutes: James, Wordsworth (89’), Dunne, Jones (72’), Alfa (72’).
Tonbridge Angels: Henly (GK); Hinds (71’), Fielding, Sutcliffe, Vincent, Meade; Gard (61’), Higgs, Macarthur; Poopola, Shields.
Substitutes: Edwards (GK), Parkinson, Velvick (71’), Wagstaff (61’).
Attendance: 1163
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