Welling United v Chelmsford City FC

Match Report

Chelmsford City produced an impressive performance to win 2-1 away at a strong Welling side yesterday at Park View Road.

City were the better side in the first half despite Welling hitting the bar and having one cleared off the line, but City took the lead midway through the second half through a great finish by Simeon Jackson. 3 minutes later however, City conceded a penalty but Jacob Marsden saved Stefan Payne’s spot kick. Jackson took advantage of Welling defensive hesitancy to score again with about 10 minutes to go and despite Taylor Maloney’s late strike, City held on to win and stay unbeaten after 5 National League South fixtures.

Chelmsford made 3 changes from the midweek trip to Chippenham. Ovie Ejeheri missed out so Jacob Marsden played for the first time in the league since March. Liam Trotter replaced Louis Dunne in the midfield and Simeon Jackson replaced Jazzi Barnum-Bobb who had a slight knock. City also changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Chelmsford also included summer signing Jamie Yila in the matchday squad for the first time as he returns from injury.

City suffered an early injury blow as Cameron James was substituted after just 12 minutes. Callum Jones came on which meant that Henry Ochieng had to fill in at right back for the rest of the game. Chelmsford had most of the game early on but couldn’t create any clear-cut chances with the final cross letting them down in the first half. Welling though had the first real shot in anger when Taylor Maloney’s 20 yard free-kick crashed off the bar and former Claret Tom Dickens fired over the rebound.

There were a couple of nervy moments from corners late in the first half for City, firstly there were big appeals from the Welling fans for a handball against Dave Winfield and then Henry Ochieng headed Stefan Payne’s flick header off the line from another Wings flag-kick. Chelmsford could have scored with one of the last kicks of the half as Jacob Marsden’s punt forward found Simeon Jackson but the former Norwich striker headed it past the onrushing keeper but wide.

The real drama came in the second half though. Firstly Welling could have been reduced to 10 as when substitute Callum Jones kicked the ball forward, home midfielder Amadou Kassarate swiped his standing foot but the referee only gave him a yellow card. Jones was in tears of agony and had to be subbed off to be replaced by Louis Dunne. As Jones missed almost the whole of last season with an ankle injury it was a gut-wrenching moment for the former Colchester United player.

Then after 67 minutes the first goal of the afternoon. Jacob Marsden caught a cross and then smashed the ball quickly down the left hand side. Simeon Jackson got onto it and dummied inside Dickens and then fired a howitzer of a shot into the top left hand corner of the net, a brilliant finish.

City couldn’t celebrate for long as Eduino Vaz brought down Kassarate in the box for a Welling penalty. However Jacob Marsden dived to his right to save Stefan Payne’s effort and Ade Oluwo was first to react to clear.

Welling substitute Ashley Nzala was booked even before he stepped on the pitch as Welling tried to make a quick substitution but the assistant referee was not in place to carry out the necessary formalities. Then when Welling tried to make another substitution, Eduino Vaz took a quick throw-in which found Tom Blackwell who squared it for Simeon Jackson to fire into the top corner from close-range. An enterprising piece of play from City and Welling were punished for falling asleep at a crucial moment.

Once again City couldn’t celebrate for long as Taylor Maloney fired in from 25 yards to halve the deficit in the 86^th minute. However despite the usual late pressure, Welling couldn’t craft out a chance and the 3 points went back through the tunnel and to Chelmsford.

City are next in action on Monday 29^th August against Concord Rangers (3pm kickoff)

Chelmsford City: Marsden, James (Jones 12 (L Dunne 53)), Trotter, Winfield ©, Oluwo, Aransibia, Lodovica, Simeon Jackson, Blackwell (Ruff 84), Ochieng, Vaz

Unused Substitutes: Hockey, Yila

Goals: Simeon Jackson 67 & 82

Bookings: Trotter, Lodovica, Ochieng

Player of the Match: Jacob Marsden

Welling United: Roberts, Howard (Papadopolous 83), Parry, Hyde, (Nzala 75), Azeez, Payne, Kassarate, J Dunne ©, White, Dickens, Maloney

Unused Substitutes: Elito, Francis, Sam Jackson (GK)

Goal: Maloney 86

Bookings: J Dunne, Kassarate, Nzala

Attendance: 901

Referee: R Claussen