Chelmsford City FC v Weymouth

Match Report

Chelmsford City kept their unbeaten start to the season going with a 3-1 win over Weymouth at a sunny Melbourne Stadium.  

Chelmsford cruised into a two goal lead thanks to two fine finishes by Tom Blackwell but Weymouth got back into the game and could have been level at the break. The visitors did reply 5 minutes into the second half through Tom Blair and were much the better side in the second half. However, substitutions and a formation change meant that City got better as the second period went along and after multiple chances to kill the game off, Callum Jones scored with the last kick for his first for the club.  

Clarets boss Robbie Simpson made 1 change to the starting XI as Dave Winfield made his first start for the club since the 9th April as Simpson shuffled his formation around and started with a 5 at the back. Khale Da Costa dropped out of the squad and his spot on the bench was taken by Louis Dunne, back after suspension. 

City once again could have scored inside 20 seconds as a lofted through ball and some hesitation from Nathan Carlyle allowed Harry Lodovica a shot on goal but it was tipped over by Bournemouth loanee keeper Billy Terrell.  

City’s early pressure paid off when Ade Oluwo won the ball in midfield and started a counter-attack which ended with Tom Blackwell firing brilliantly across Billy Terrell in the visiting goal with his left foot. There was some neat play by Devonte Aransibia and Simeon Jackson in the build-up and the Clarets were full value for their lead. 1-0.  

Simeon Jackson then headed over a Jazzi Barnum-Bobb cross but City wouldn’t have to wait long for another goal. Good work from Eduino Vaz down the left found Cameron James and the central defender stepped forward onto the ball and shot. The strike deflected off Terras skipper Xander McBurnie and fell kindly for Blackwell who stayed composed and stroked the ball into the bottom corner. It was the first time Blackwell had scored more than 1 in a game for City.  

Weymouth could have been level at the break though as Keelan O’Connell headed at Ovie Ejeheri who saved with his head from point blank range and after Dave Winfield was booked for a lunging tackle, Bradley Ash’s free-kick hit the bar from the last kick of the first half.  

Weymouth eventually got one back though as Tom Bearwish’s shot was brilliantly saved by Ejeheri but Tom Blair tapped in the rebound 5 minutes into the second half.  

Weymouth kept up the pressure and should have equalised when Dave Winfield’s header fell for Keelan O’Connell but he curled wide of the post. A change of shape to a back 4 changed the game in Chelmsford’s favour. Callum Jones and Henry Ochieng replaced Cameron James and Simeon Jackson in the 64th minute and Jones impacted the game immediately with energy and running.  

A number of chances then came City’s way. Ade Oluwo turned and shot following a corner but his effort was straight at Terrell. Then Harry Lodovica could have opened his City account but Nathan Carlyle fortunately fell onto the ball in the six yard box and cleared. 

After Blackwell went off with cramp, his replacement Freddie Hockey fired wide when Devonte Aransibia fed him through on goal for the best chance to kill the game off.  

The game was finally sealed though with the last kick when Lodovica flicked the ball on down the right wing and Devonte Aransibia set up Callum Jones to score his first goal for the club after his injury troubles as he fired into the top corner.  

City move into 4th in the new Vanarama National League South table whereas the visitors have had their worst league start since the 1908-09 season. City have a game in hand which is the rearranged game away at Chippenham this Tuesday 23rd, kickoff 7.45pm.  

Chelmsford City (5-2-2-1): Ejeheri, Barnum-Bobb, Winfield (C), Oluwo, James (Ochieng 64), Vaz, Aransibia, Trotter, Blackwell (Hockey 77), Jackson (Jones 64), Lodovica 

Unused subs: Dunne, Ruff  

Goalscorers: Blackwell 18 & 34, Jones 90+5 

Booked: Winfield, Lodovica, James, Ochieng 

Player of the Match: Tom Blackwell 

Weymouth: (4-3-3) Terrell, Nippard, Carlyle, Matsuzaka, Kyprianou (Boutin 65), O’Connell (Ofosu 65), Murray, McBurnie (C), Bearwish, Blair (Gifford 86), Ash   

Unused subs: Seddon, Ward 

Booked: Blair 

Goalscorer: Blair 50 

Attendance: 712