Full-time: Eastbourne Borough 2-1 Chelmsford City
Eastbourne Borough picked up a hard-fought victory over Chelmsford City at the ReachTV Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Murray’s side capitalised on their strong start to the game when defender David Sesay put his side ahead in the 20th minute with a well-taken finish from inside the penalty box. The hosts doubled their advantage early in the second half when Yahya Bamba got on the end of Jason Adigun’s forward pass and poked the ball past Ted Collins.
Clarets boss Robbie Simpson made five changes inside the opening 20 minutes of the second period, and the substitutes had a positive impact, with both Jordan Greenidge and Paul Appiah coming close to pulling one back. City’s substitutes then combined in the 80th minute when Archie Tamplin won a penalty, which Greenidge went on to convert. The Clarets were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages of the game, which consigned them to their first defeat since January 4th.
Simpson made two changes to the team that started against Chesham United on Tuesday, bringing Joe Rye and Finley Wilkinson into the starting XI in place of Sam Oguntayo and Jake Hyde. Tamplin returned to the matchday squad and was named on the bench alongside vice-captain Charlie Ruff.
City started the game slowly and nearly fell behind in the opening five minutes when Eastbourne forward Bamba almost took advantage of an underhit backpass by Jacob Bland. The forward was left with Ted Collins to beat after going through on goal one-on-one, but Collins came out on top and made a strong save to keep the score level.
Simpson’s side had a chance to open the scoring in the 14th minute when Kane Crichlow’s corner found Cameron James, but the defender’s header sailed just over the crossbar.
In the 20th minute, the hosts were rewarded for their strong start when Sesay put his side ahead. The defender capitalised on a loose ball that fell his way inside the Chelmsford City half, cutting inside from the left and side-footing the ball into the bottom corner of Collins’ net.
Eastbourne came close to doubling their lead in the 31st minute. A dangerous ball across the face of goal from Clarke fell to Sesay at the back post, but the forward was unable to double his goal tally for the afternoon.
Collins was called into action again just before half-time. Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s loose pass allowed Bamba to get a shot away, but the goalkeeper reacted well to save it down to his left.
The second half began in disastrous fashion for Chelmsford City, who failed to clear a long pass forward from Jason Adigun. Bamba was quick to pounce and took advantage of City’s failure to clear their lines by taking charge of the situation. He picked up the ball and poked it past Collins to double Eastbourne’s lead in the 47th minute.
Simpson wrung the changes after Bamba’s goal and introduced Jordan Greenidge, Ryan Blackman, Charlie Ruff and Archie Tamplin inside the opening 10 minutes of the second period. City’s substitutes began to trouble Murray’s side more as Ruff and Greenidge combined well in the 63rd minute. Greenidge found space and fired a shot, but it went narrowly wide of the post.
In the 70th minute, the Clarets had another chance to get back into the game when substitute Paul Appiah connected with Blackman’s corner, but his header also went just wide.
As the match reached the final stages, City earned a penalty in the 80th minute. Substitute Tamplin made a driving run down the right-hand side and drew a foul from Sesay inside the Eastbourne penalty area. Greenidge stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Wright the wrong way, pulling one back for the Clarets City in the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Eastbourne responded well to having their lead halved and were denied a third goal by referee Issac Searle. A corner taken by the hosts turned into a goalmouth scramble, but the referee waved away Eastbourne’s appeals claiming that the ball had crossed the line. The Sports came close again to scoring their third goal of the game, but Collins made a vital save to deny substitute John Shamalo from close range in added time.
Simpson’s men will make a quick return to National League South action when they host Maidstone United in around 48 hours at the EMJ Community Stadium.
Eastbourne Borough XI: Wright (GK); Clarke (Klass 86′), Alexander (Shamalo 74′), Sesay (Diarra 85′), Kensdale, Carter, Bamba (Anifowose 74′), Adigun, Odusanya (C), Clarke, Woollard-Innocent.
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Odusanyo 45+2′, Jack Clarke 54′, Woollard-Innocent 69′, Carter 74′, Klass 90+2, Diarra 90+7
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); James (C) (Appiah 66′), Edwards (Blackman 53′), Barbrook; Barnum-Bobb, Penney, Rye, Bland (Ruff 55′), Crichlow (Tamplin 55′), Wilkinson, Akanbi (Greenidge 51′).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Penny 34′, James 64′, Rye 73′
Match officials: Issac Searle (Referee), Ryan Chantrill-Smith (Assistant Referee), Callum McFarlane (Assistant Referee), Simon Faires (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1007
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