Full-time: Hashtag United 1–4 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City recorded their second win of pre-season with an impressive victory over Hashtag United at Parkside.
City’s second game in just over 48 hours got off to the perfect start when Jack Barham scored his first Clarets goal less than 15 seconds into the match.
Jay Devereux’s side responded well to going behind and levelled the score in the 22nd minute through Bradley Sach’s close-range finish. However, they fell behind again around 10 minutes later when Josh Hedges netted a well-taken goal after going close moments earlier.
City edged a competitive second half and extended their lead in the 66th minute when substitute Kai Corbett unselfishly squared the ball across goal for Trialist A to tap in from close range.
Late on, the Clarets added a fourth when academy duo Jett Murphy and Lester Ward combined to great effect, with the latter finding the back of the net.
Having faced Brackley Town just two days earlier, Angelo Harrop made five changes to his starting XI as he looked to manage his squad’s workload.
City’s dream start came courtesy of Barham, who opened his Clarets account with less than 15 seconds on the clock. Josh Castiglione latched onto a long ball forward from goalkeeper Chris Haigh and laid it into Barham’s path, who expertly guided his strike into the corner.
Hedges had his first opportunity of the evening in the 11th minute. From a similar position to Barham’s opener, he struck an ambitious effort toward goal, but it flew just wide of the post.
Hashtag responded well and found an equaliser in the 22nd minute. A wicked delivery from the left evaded the Clarets’ backline and fell kindly to Sach at the back post, who tapped in from close range.
City nearly regained the lead in the 33rd minute when Hedges got on the end of Remy’s low cross into the box, but the Tags’ goalkeeper made a superb last-ditch save to keep the scores level.
Just moments later, Hedges finally got his goal. He got on the end of Barham’s ball across the box, cleverly dummied two defenders and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
In the second half, both sides began to make changes, and two of City’s substitutes combined to great effect in the 66th minute. Corbett picked up a loose pass in the Hashtag half, drove toward goal and coolly chopped the ball across goal to Trialist A for a simple finish.
After scoring against Brackley, Murphy almost added to his pre-season tally in the 73rd minute. Ward’s powerful shot was parried into Murphy’s path, but he was unable to keep the rebound down and fired over.
Murphy and Ward eventually had their moment and combined decisively in the 88th minute. Murphy delivered an accurate cross into the box, and Ward made no mistake from close range to round off the scoring.
Victory at Parkside sets City up nicely for their penultimate home friendly of pre-season, taking place this weekend against League Two club Bromley. Click here to get your tickets.
Chelmsford City XI: Haigh (GK (Trialist B 72’); Clark, Tompkins (Ward 46’), Longe-King (Tassell 72’), Barbrook; Odusanya (Trialist C 72’), Tamplin (Ronan 46’); Remy (Corbett 46’), Castiglione, Hedges (Murphy 72’); Barham (Trialist A 46’).
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