Full-time: Hemel Hempstead 2-2 Chelmsford City
Hemel Hempstead Town and Chelmsford City shared the points on Monday night at the Focus Community Arena in an end-to-end clash in Hertfordshire.
Bobby Wilkinson’s side started the game faster than City and took the lead in the 15th minute when striker Saleem Akanbi scored on his Hemel home debut.
Robbie Simpson had to make a first half substitution when Louis Dunne was forced off with an injury; Simpson opted to introduce Cameron James and switched to a three-at-the-back system which allowed City to cause their hosts more problems in the latter stages of the first half.
Kalvin Kalala scored his first Chelmsford City goal in the 37th minute to draw the Clarets level before half-time – Hemel failed to clear Brad Williams’ cross and Kalala bundled the ball into the net at the back post.
Charlie Ruff earned City a dream start to the second half when he scored his fourth National League South goal of the season in the 48th minute. Ruff guided the ball past Craig King from close-range and netted his third goal of the year at the Focus Community Arena.
When the Tudors equalised in the 71st minute, City were made to rue a trio of missed chances which would’ve put them into a 3-1 lead. Jordan Greenidge and Ruff were both unable to score presentable opportunities, which Hemel substitute Joe Iaciofano capitalised on when he guided a header on target. Referee Harrison Blair judged Iaciofano’s header to have crossed the line, even though goalkeeper Woody Williamson got a hand to the effort and palmed it away from goal.
Neither side were able to find a winning goal in the final 20 minutes of the match, meaning both teams were forced to settle with a point apiece.
Simpson opted to make a change between the sticks at the Focus Community Arena and introduced Ipswich Town loanee Williamson for his full debut after the 18-year-old featured as an outfield player last time out against Farnborough. Williamson came on as a late substitute in place of Kane Crichlow on Saturday, and the Bermudian was unable to recover from the injury which forced him off against Boro; Dunne took Crichlow’s place in the starting XI to make his first start of the season.
Hemel started the first half the strongest of the two sides and earned a deserved lead in the 15th minute. A well worked passing move by Wilkinson’s side ended in Akanbi scoring for the Tudors on his home debut. City were unable to clear Goerge Williams’ cross from the left flank and Akanbi capitalised by tapping the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
Midfielder Dunne’s first National League South start of the season was cut short when he was forced off by an injury in the 28th minute. Dunne was replaced by defender James, which resulted in Simpson switching from a four-at-the-back to a three-at-the-back system.
The Clarets began to cause Hemel more problems after being forced into their change of formation, and Kalala’s first Chelmsford City goal meant the visitors went into half-time level pegging with their hosts. James’ spread of play found full-back turned wing-back Brad Williams in space down the right-hand-side. Williams’ delivery across goal created uncertainty amongst the Tudors’ backline which Kalala capitalised on when bundled the ball into the net at the back post.
Simpson’s side started the second half faster than Hemel and took the lead three minutes after Harrison Blair blew his whistle to resume play in Hertfordshire. Osman Foyo’s cross from the right flank found Kalala inside the Hemel penalty area, and the Frenchman’s deft touch forward guided the ball into the path of Ruff, who struck a shot past Craig King from close-range. Ruff went from scoring a goal at one end to saving a goal at the other end when he headed Alfie Cerulli’s header off the line in the 57th minute.
Prior to Hemel’s 71st minute equaliser, City came close to extending their lead on three occasions. Jordan Greenidge picked the pocket of a Hemel defender and struck an effort on target, which goalkeeper King impressively tipped on to the crossbar in the 59th minute. Moments after Greenidge’s opportunity, Ruff nearly secured his second goal of the night when a three-against-two counterattack resulted in Foyo squaring the ball to him inside the Tudors’ penalty area. However, Ruff missed the target and fired his effort over the crossbar. Greenidge hit the woodwork again in the 68th minute when he flicked Foyo’s low cross through the bodies of several Hemel defenders and onto the post.
City were made to rue this trio of missed opportunities when the Tudors scored an equaliser in the 71st minute. Teddy Howe’s cross from the right flank picked out second half substitute Iaciofano at the back post. Iaciofano’s header on target was palmed away from goal by Williamson, but referee Blair and assistant Bogdan Khimych judged the ball to have crossed the line and awarded Wilkinson’s side their second goal of the game.
Neither side were unable to find a crucial late winner in the final 20 minutes of the match, leaving both teams forced to settle to take a point from their second game in just over 48 hours. City return to action on Saturday when they welcome Salisbury to the EMJ Community Stadium.
Hemel Hempstead XI: King (GK); Wishart ©, Ajayi, Tompkins, Smith, Williams, Howe, Brown, Cerulli (Iaciofano 60’), Roberts (Ondo 60’), Akanbi (German 60’).
Unused substitutes: Davies, Kurran-Browne
Yellow cards: Ajayi
Chelmsford City XI: Williamson (GK); Williams, Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Tamplin, Dunne (James 32’); Foyo (Hockey 81’), Ruff ©, Kalala (Bland 86’); Greenidge (Hyde 90’).
Unused substitutes: Collins (GK).
Yellow cards: Ruff
Match Officials: Harrison Blair (Referee), Bogdan Khimych (Assistant Referee), Nick Reece (Assistant Referee), Charlie Roberts (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 875
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