Full-time: Chippenham Town 0-1 Chelmsford City
Kane Crichlow’s header 15 minutes from time was the only goal of the game, securing Chelmsford City three points on their travels to the The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium.
Nico Valentine set up the goal after twisting and turning to beat Tyreke Johnson down the right-hand side, he then hung the ball up to the back post where Critchlow’s header found its way past Will Henry, through an array of bodies in both white and blue.
The victorious Clarets team only had three players over the age of 22 including seven players coming through the Clarets pathway. This included Kennedy Mupomba who made an impressive league debut in midfield coming in for the absent Ryan Blackman. The only other change came after Arthur Penney’s red card last week, with Saleem Akanbi coming into to the starting lineup.
Akanbi played 66 minutes before being replaced by academy graduate Freddie Hockey. Hoping to one day follow in Hockey’s footsteps, academy players Lewis Hayes, Jett Murphy and Lester Ward all made their league debuts from the bench.
Chelmsford City registered their first shot on target after just the third kick of the game, when Charlie Ruff tested the Bluebird’s keeper after he flicked up, and shot the ball from kick off. Henry failed to catch the ball and spilt the ball, but to his relief the early scare amounted to nothing.
Chippenham would be worried again ten minutes later as Leone Gravata was on the receiving end of a Ruaridh Donaldson clearance. The ball struck Gravata in the face leaving him down and needing treatment. Unfortunately, Gravata’s day was over as Gary Horgan called upon academy player Harlee Vozza as his replacement.
Robbie Simpson’s Clarets would have their first chance at goal midway through the first half, after Mupomba was brought down for a free kick on the edge of the box as Valentine and Bland linked up well down the right-hand side. Captain Charlie Ruff stepped up to take the close-range free kick, but his effort went over the bar.
Not long after entering the pitch Vozza would have the first chance for the Bluebirds as some good play found him clear in space on the left-hand side. Fortunately for Ted Collins his tame effort went straight down the middle of the goal.
Chelmsford City then had a chance of their own to open the scoring just before half time, through Sam Oguntayo. After a fantastic pass from Donaldson that put him in on goal, Oguntayo attempted to chip the goalkeeper as he crept off his line, but Henry stuck his hands in the air and managed to keep the game all square heading into the break.
The Clarets had a penalty shout denied ten minutes into the first half after Ruff’s close-range shot was seemingly blocked by the arm of a falling Chippenham defender. The chance was created by a lofted pass from Mpumoba which was chested down by Akanbi to Ruff.
The fresh legs of Hockey was utilized straight away a minute after coming on the pitch, Charlie Ruff slid him in down the right hand side but his cross was met by the keeper. Four minutes later Ruff would find Hockey in space on the right again and this time his shot would be turned away for a corner.
Chelmsford was rewarded for their furry of chances five minutes later when Bermuda international Kane Crichlow’s header beat Henry, making him the highest goal scorer in the team for Chelmsford this season with 13 goals. Nico Valentine had done well to get past former Claret Tyreke Johnson and his cross was pinpoint for Crichlow.
Chippenham had the chance to level the scoring with the last kick off the game as they were awarded a free kick. Like all of the home sides shots on the day it was an easy save for Ted Collins, who secured back to back clean sheets and his ninth in the league this season.
With just 4 games left to play, the Clarets have mathematically secured survival but will still face some tough test as 4 of the bottom 5 are in the Clarets’ schedule for the remainder of the season.
Chippenham Town XI Henry (GK); Poffley, Grant, Mehew (Evans 86’), Johnson, Mcclure, Owen-Evans (Parsons 63’), Bray (Andrews 90+5), Spokes (Haines 86’), Gravita (Vozza 10’), Bradbury
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow Cards: Bradbury 45+3’,
Chelmsford City XI Collins (GK); Bland, Appiah, Donaldson, Oguntayo; Valentine (Legg 90+8), Tamplin (Ward 90+6), Mupomba, Crichlow (Murphy 90+8); Ruff (C) (Hayes 86’); Akanbi (Hockey 66’)
Unused Substitutes: none.
Goals: Crichlow 74′
Attendance: 578
Words by Ed Groves
by