Full time: Hertford Town 0-5 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City recorded their first win of pre-season with a convincing 5-0 victory over Hertford Town on Saturday afternoon.
First half goals from Charlie Ruff and Freddie Hockey set City on their way to victory in Hertfordshire. In the second period, summer signings Archie Tamplin and Kalvin Kalala found the back of the net for the first time since they joined the club earlier this summer. Shortly after Kalala’s effort, one of several trialists who featured in Claret added City’s fifth goal of the afternoon.
Robbie Simpson named a mix of Chelmsford City players and trialists in his starting XI for Saturday’s clash at the Smile IT Stadium; Ted Collins, Ruaridh Donaldson, Louis Dunne, Charlie Ruff, Freddie Hockey, and six trialists all completed the first half for City. Six first-team players as well as a number of other trialists made up the substitutes bench in the first period. All but one of these players were introduced at the beginning of the second half when Simpson made 10 changes at the break.
City started the game strongly and nearly took an even earlier lead when Trialist F had an effort cleared off the line after being picked out by Charlie Ruff. Trialist F and Ruff combined again moments later but went one better this time, when the latter of the two scored his first goal of pre-season. Trialist F latched on to a dangerous cross delivered by Donaldson and guided the ball towards Ruff, who bundled it home from close-range in the 12th minute.
City remained in control of proceedings after taking the lead, although a rare goalscoring opportunity did fall the hosts’ way in the 25th minute, which forced goalkeeper Ted Collins into making a smart save down to his left.
City continued to probe in forward areas and Freddie Hockey squandered an excellent opportunity in the six yard box, after being picked out by Trialist D’s cross in the 29th minute. Moments later, the lively Ruff was the latest player to go close when he stung the palms of Hertford’s goalkeeper with a powerful effort from inside the penalty box.
Hockey had another opportunity in the 33rd minute when his run behind the Hertford defence was picked out by Ruff, but the forward’s chipped effort ended up the wrong side of the post. Three minutes later, Hockey had another opportunity which he dispatched. After winning the ball back in Hertford’s half of the pitch, Hockey dribbled towards goal and fired a powerful shot beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.
A new team of outfield players were given the opportunity to continue City’s impressive performance when Simpson made 10 substitutions at half time, changing every player except goalkeeper Collins.
New signing Archie Tamplin’s Chelmsford City career got off to a perfect start when he scored his side’s third goal of the game less than five minutes into his first appearance for the club. Tamplin won the ball high up the pitch and quickly produced a clinical finish into the bottom corner of the Hertford goal.
Tamplin turned from scorer to provider in the 53rd minute when he picked out his former Lewes teammate Kalvin Kalala. Tamplin completed a strong run down the right flank by cutting the ball back to Kalala, who was waiting on the edge of the penalty area and then produced a composed finish into the bottom corner.
A barnstorming opening 20 minutes to the second half was completed by City in the 63rd minute when Trialist G squared the ball into the path of Trialist J in the penalty box, who applied another clinical finish for the Clarets.
Despite not adding any further goals to their tally in the final 25 minutes of the game, Simpson’s side remained in control of the remainder of the proceedings at the Smile IT Stadium.
The club’s pre-season campaign continues on Tuesday with another opportunity for players to get more minutes in the legs during a trip to the home of our Essex rivals Billericay Town.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (Trialist K 72’), Donaldson (Okonkwo 46’), Dunne (Tamplin 46’), Ruff (Oguntayo 46’), Hockey (Blackman 46’), Trialist A (Watts 46’), Trialist B (Kalala 46’), Trialist C (Trialist G 46’), Trialist D (Trialist H 46’), Trialist E (Trialist I 46’), Trialist F (Trialist J 46’)
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