Full time: Tilbury 0-2 Chelmsford City
Charlie Ruff’s first half brace of goals earned Chelmsford City a comfortable FA Cup second qualifying round win over Tilbury.
Clarets captain Ruff capitalised on Ruaridh Donaldson and Oscar Thorn’s dangerous deliveries into the Tilbury penalty area, which helped set him up to score twice from close-range in the 36th and 40th minute respectively.
During the second half, Robbie Simpson’s side produced a professional performance against their Isthmian League North opponents to confidently see out their win and secure their place in the draw for the FA Cup third qualifying round.
For the third game in a row, Clarets boss Simpson named an unchanged starting eleven. Kane Crichlow returned to the Chelmsford City matchday squad after playing for Bermuda during the international break; the midfielder was one of seven City substitutes.
Inside the opening ten minutes at the EMR Stadium, the Clarets nearly opened scoring on two occasions. Jordan Greenidge had a low shot from close-range, which Tilbury goalkeeper Christian North diverted behind for a corner. In the 10th minute, Ruff got on the end of Sam Oguntayo’s accurate cross, but guided his header the wrong side of the post.
Following a quiet spell in the game during which neither goalkeeper was tested, the match came to life during the closing ten minutes of the first half when Ruff scored a brace in the space of four minutes. The City captain opened his FA Cup account in the 36th minute after getting on the end of a flick-on by Greenidge. Ruaridh Donaldson originally delivered the corner which Greenidge guided across the face of Tilbury’s goal, allowing Ruff head the ball home from close-range.
Ruff scored again from point blank distance less than five minutes later. Oscar Thorn’s good work down the right flank resulted in the Colchester United loanee producing a dangerous delivery across goal, which rewarded Ruff with another goal when he bundled it into the Tilbury net at the back post.
The second period of the proceedings at the EMR Stadium proved to be more muted than the first half, although Simpson’s side comfortably saw the game out and protected their two-goal lead. Had it not been for a couple of near misses, City could have come away with a haul of more than two goals as well.
While Ruff was unable to score his third goal of the afternoon and record a hat trick in the second half, he did come close to providing one of the assists of the season in the 62nd minute. Ruff delivered a rabona cross from the left flank, which found Greenidge at the back post, but the forward’s header went a few inches over the crossbar.
67th minute substitute Kane Crichlow nearly scored his first Clarets goal in the 83rd minute when he struck a powerful shot from inside the Tilbury penalty area, however the Bermuda international’s effort went the wrong side of North’s goal.
The Clarets’ win in Essex secured the club’s place in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, with the draw set to take place on Monday 16th September.
Thank you for support this afternoon in Tilbury, Clarets! 👏
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) September 14, 2024
We're into the 🎩 for the next round of the FA Cup. #ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/1A86XJeQH2
Tilbury XI: North (GK); Joynes (Akrofi 74′), Carter, Clark (Jones 25’), Hayes, Bantick, Spooner ©, Clark, Trendall, Martin, Metalia (McQueen 83’).
Unused substitutes: Agunbiade, Bell, Last.
Yellow cards: none.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Thorn (Hockey 84’), Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo; Donaldson, Penney, Ruff © (Tamplin 78’); Foyo (Crichlow 67’), Kalala (Williams 67’), Greenidge (Hyde 67’).
Unused substitutes: Watts, Dunne.
Yellow cards: none.
Match Officials: Tom Ellsmore (Referee), Thomas Berry (Assistant Referee), Daryl Ann (Assistant Referee), Kadir Nazif (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 629
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