Full-time: Maidstone United 1-5 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City sealed their first win of the 2024-25 National League South season in spectacular fashion on Tuesday night, overcoming Maidstone United in a 5-1 victory at the Gallagher Stadium.
George Elokobi’s side took an early lead when Aaron Blair put the Stones in front after less than a minute had been played in Kent. City responded well to going behind though, and Osman Foyo spearheaded the Clarets’ first-half comeback when he completed a brace in the 45th minute, which put Robbie Simpson’s men ahead going into the break.
In the second period, Charlie Ruff and Freddie Hockey secured a five-star win for their side when they both opened their Chelmsford City goalscoring accounts for the 24-25 campaign. Ruff first found the back of the net in the 83rd minute, before he doubled his goal tally six minutes later, to become the second City player of the evening to score a brace. Hockey’s goal in added time completed City’s five-goal haul and represented the cherry on the top of a successful night at the Gallagher Stadium.
Robbie Simpson introduced new signing and former Maidstone United man Paul Appiah from the offset in Kent, who partnered Gillingham loanee Sam Gale at the heart of the City defence. Appiah’s inclusion in the starting XI represented one of three changes to the Chelmsford City team which was defeated away at Truro City on Saturday – Appiah replaced Ryan Blackman whilst Kalvin Kalala and Jordan Greenidge came in for Archie Tamplin and Jake Hyde.
The hosts started the game the strongest and got off the mark less than a minute into the proceedings when forward Aaron Blair netted his first goal in a Maidstone United shirt. Former Claret Ben Brookes’ long throw-in alluded the defending City players in the middle of the penalty area and dropped into the path of Blair at the back post, who put the ball past Ted Collins from close-range.
City struggled to deal with another high ball into the penalty area five minutes later which allowed defender George Fowler to hit a first-time volley towards goal. The Stones skipper’s effort narrowly missed the target and landed on the roof of the net.
Despite beginning the game shakily, Simpson’s men eventually found their feet at the Gallagher Stadium and started to cause their hosts problems before Foyo scored the equaliser. The Clarets created a number of well-worked opportunities, which saw both Foyo and captain Charlie Ruff drag efforts wide of the goal in the 17th and 18th minute respectively.
The Clarets’ positive attacking play was finally rewarded when Foyo secured his second Chelmsford City goal of the season. Ipswich Town loanee Foyo, who opened his Chelmsford City account during Saturday’s visit to Truro City, was on hand in the 20th minute to convert the rebound of Alexis Andre Jr’s impressive save which had denied Ruff a goal.
Maidstone responded well to losing their lead and would have restored it in the 28th minute had it not been for Ted Collins’ strong save to deny Pierre Fonkeu. Bruno Andrade’s cross from the left flank was guided by Blair into the path of Fonkeu – whose strike towards the top corner was tipped over the crossbar by Collins’ strong hand.
The game evened out during the final fifteen minutes of the first half, however it was City who took a lead into half-time after Foyo completed his brace in the 45th minute. Charlie Seaman’s volley from outside the penalty box was blocked by Ruff and then deflected into the path of Foyo, who found himself with a clear run towards goal. Foyo carried the ball from inside his own half and into the Maidstone penalty area before he kept his composure in front of goal and beat Andre Jr with a clinical finish.
For much of the second period, there were few chances for either side. Up until the 83rd minute the Stones chased an equaliser, but City’s defence came out on top and limited Elokobi’s side to registering only one second half shot on target.
Jake Hyde, Callum Watts and Freddie Hockey were all introduced over a 15-minute spell between the 64th and 79th minute, and Robbie Simpson’s first three second half substitutes each played key roles in the goals which earned their side a convincing victory. Hockey broke down the left-hand side in the 84th minute and delivered a cross into the Maidstone penalty area which was initially cleared by Raphe Brown. However, Brown’s clearance rolled directly to the feet of Ruff who went on to score clinically with a first-time, left-footed shot across goal which put the Clarets 3-1 ahead.
Ruff completed his brace six minutes later and Hockey played a key role in the move again. This time he delivered a cross from the right flank which Maidstone were unable to clear; Ruff pounced upon the Stones’ indecision when he rolled the ball past Andre Jr from close-range.
In added time, Hockey scored the goal which his impressive cameo deserved. The 19-year-old latched onto Jake Hyde’s flick-on and managed to take the ball past Andre Jr inside the hosts’ penalty area, before powering his strike into the empty Maidstone goal.
The Clarets’ win at the Gallagher Stadium secured a pivotal first three points of the season for Robbie Simpson’s squad – with the delight at full-time from both the players and fans being clear to see.
City will now look to earn back-to-back National League South wins when they return to action at the EMJ Community Stadium on Saturday against Bath City.
Maidstone United XI: Andre Jr (GK); Eweka, Brookes, Fowler ©, Benton (Bentley 80’), Blair, Seaman, Krasniqi (Court 66’), Andrade (Brown 55’), Gurung, Fonkeu (Coulthirst 66’).
Unused substitutes: Holden.
Yellow cards: Eweka, Krasniqi.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Thorn, Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Donaldson (Dunne 90+5’), Penney, Ruff © (Tamplin 90+2); Foyo (Hockey 79’), Kalala (Watts 67’), Greenidge (Hyde 64’).
Unused substitutes: none.
Yellow cards: Spillane (Assistant Manager).
Match Officials: Gary Parsons (Referee), Callum Parke (Assistant Referee), Abdul Olol (Assistant Referee), Tolu Sangowawa (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1938
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