Full-time: Hornchurch 0-2 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City beat Hornchurch on Saturday afternoon to earn their fourth consecutive win in all competitions. Goals from Kane Crichlow and Charlie Ruff put the Clarets into a commanding first half lead at the Hornchurch Stadium. Following an assured second half showing, Crichlow’s first Chelmsford City strike and Ruff’s goal against his former club proved to be enough to secure maximum points for Robbie Simpson’s side.
From the outset in Essex, City controlled the game and were rarely troubled by the Urchins. Daryl McMahon’s side were kept at bay by a Clarets backline which went unchanged for the fourth consecutive match, allowing Ted Collins to record his second National League South clean sheet of the season.
The Clarets have moved up to 12th in the league standings following Saturday’s win, which marked Hornchurch’s first home defeat in over a month.
Ahead of kick-off, Robbie Simpson changed his starting eleven for the first time in nearly three weeks; Bermuda international Crichlow came into the team and took the place of the injured Kalvin Kalala. Bradley Williams returned to a National League South matchday squad for the first time since August, replacing Jake Hyde on the City bench. Former Claret Tom Wraight featured in midfield for Hornchurch, while last season’s vice-captain Jazzi Barnum-Bobb was named on the Urchins’ bench.
Both goalkeepers were forced to make saves inside the opening ten minutes of the proceedings at the Hornchurch Stadium. West Ham loanee Mason Terry denied Crichlow a 3rd minute goal when he made himself big to save Crichlow’s effort, after he was slipped through on goal by Ruff. At the other end, a shot on target by Wraight from inside the penalty area forced Collins to make a routine stop.
The influence of former Urchins man Ruff, who was at the heart of City’s positive attacking play throughout Saturday’s game at the Hornchurch Stadium, was exemplified in the first half goals scored by Simpson’s side. The 25-year-old provided the assist for Crichlow’s 33rd minute opener when he impressively played a one-two with the Bermudian, who dispatched Ruff’s cushioned pass past Terry with a clinical first-time finish inside the Hornchurch penalty area.
Twelve minutes later, City doubled their lead moments before referee Adam Merchant signalled for half-time. Crichlow’s run from deep sparked a clinical Clarets counterattack, and Chelmsford City’s left winger for the day eventually produced a low delivery once he reached the byline. Hornchurch were unable to clear Crichlow’s cross and following a near-post scramble, Ruff was able to bundle the ball into Terry’s net after it rolled across the face of goal.
Ruff was involved again when City created the first clear-cut chance of the second half less than a minute after the match had got back underway. Crichlow and Ruff combined once again in the final third, and the latter of the attacking duo fired a shot over the crossbar from 12-yards out.
Attacking midfielder Ruff’s 46th minute opportunity was one of the small handful of goalscoring opportunities which fell the way of both teams in the second half. Hornchurch substitute George Saunders came close to halving the Clarets’ lead in the 74th minute when he chipped an effort over Ted Collins, after being picked out by Charlee Adams’ pass behind the City backline. Much to the relief of the Clarets’ players, management team and fans, Saunders’ effort landed the wrong side of the City net and went behind for a goal kick.
Robbie Simpson introduced all five players from his substitutes bench during the second half, meaning the likes of Williams, Louis Dunne and Archie Tamplin all got welcome minutes in their legs during the closing stages of the game.
You brought the noise to the Hornchurch Stadium today, Clarets 🔊 Thank you for your incredible support in Essex!
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) September 21, 2024
It's safe to say we all enjoyed those full-time celebrations 🤩#ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/d9Ny5eRCm3
Saturday’s win in Essex marked Chelmsford City’s final National League South game of the month – Simpson’s men resume their FA Cup campaign against Bromsgrove Sporting next week, meaning they will not return to league action until October 5th, when Eastbourne Borough travel to the EMJ Community Stadium.
Hornchurch XI: Terry (GK); Greenidge, Green, Lomas, Scott ©; Adams, Wraight, Balanta (Saunders 70’), McQueen (Kashket 63’), Nash (Yusuff 81’), Scannell.
Unused substitutes: Barnum-Bobb, Clements.
Yellow cards: Wraight.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Thorn (Dunne 90+3’), Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Donaldson, Penney; Foyo (Watts 68’), Ruff © (Williams 83’), Crichlow (Tamplin 89’); Greenidge (Hockey 75’).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Appiah, Greenidge, Donaldson.
Match Officials: Adam Merchant (Referee), Jeffrey Aldous (Assistant Referee), Liam Botten (Assistant Referee), Zak Demetriades (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1020
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