Chelmsford City FC V Truro City FC
National League South, Melbourne Community Stadium, Saturday 25th November 2023, CCFC Community Day, 3:00pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City will look to bounce back from Monday’s narrow defeat against Maidstone, as Robbie Simpson’s side welcome Truro City to the Melbourne Community Stadium in the club’s second home game this week, which will also mark CCFC Community Day.
Following a recent spell of draws and narrow defeats at home in the National League South, this weekend’s match marks an important opportunity for the Clarets to return to winning ways at the Melbourne Community Stadium before the club’s next home league game, which is nearly a month away on December 23rd against Torquay.
Truro will make the long trip from Cornwall to the Melbourne Community Stadium for the first time since November 2018, as the White Lions look to end a winless run dating back to September.
Here’s all Clarets fans need to know ahead of Saturday, which also marks CCFC Community Day…
CCFC Community Day & ticketing information:
This Saturday marks Chelmsford City Football Club’s Community Day. The clubs hopes free admission to the Melbourne Community Stadium before 1:30pm, followed by reduced admission prices from 1:30pm onwards, will attract as many people as possible to the Melbourne Community Stadium, as we look to bring our local community together and highlight the good work of the club and others around Chelmsford.
This Saturday also is White Ribbon Day. White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls. After recently becoming a White Ribbon partner, Chelmsford City Football Club offers its full support to the charity, and representatives of White Ribbon will be present around the ground on Saturday to spread awareness of their cause.
Reduced ticket prices:
Entry to the Melbourne Community Stadium before 1:30pm is free, with a Christmas Market around the ground opening to the public from 11:30am. More details about this can be found further down.
Tickets for entrance from 1:30pm onwards, which can be purchased online or at the turnstiles on match day, have been altered to the following reduced prices:
· Adults: £10
· Concessions: £5
· Unaccompanied U18s: £5
· Under 18s accompanied by an adult: FREE
Christmas Market:
There will be a number of stalls that are set up around the ground, open from 11:30am onwards, with Christmas gifts on offer.
In addition, we will have food on offer. We will have a German food offering, with sausages, sauerkraut, and more, as well as our usual burger van and Snookie’s coffee van.
Here’s the following confirmed Christmas Market stalls:
· Performance Sox
· Chocolate Bouquets and Hampers
· Beaded Jewellery, wine charms etc
· Crystal Pendants, bracelets etc
· Digital Art
· Print with Pride
· ScentsbySnookie
In addition to these external stall providers, the club shop is creating some “Gift packages” of CCFC memorabilia. The club will also be offering an Xmas ticket package of: Three bottles of Traunstein beer in a presentation box and an adult matchday ticket for £25; or a concession matchday ticket for £20 (Ticket vouchers can be downloaded from TicketPass).
We look forward to seeing as many people as possible at CCFC Community Day.
Opposition:
Paul Wotton’s Truro side have experienced a frustrating 2023/24 campaign up to this point so far, in a season which has marked the White Tigers’ return to the National League after the club’s relegation from the division in 2018/19.
However, a combination of a winless run going back two and a half months, coupled with multiple postponed games, has meant this season hasn’t been the happy return Truro fans would have dreamt of back in May, when the club secured promotion from the Southern League Premier Division South. After a 3rd place finish, Wotton’s side defeated Poole Town on penalties in the Play-Off Semi Final, before going on to beat Bracknell Town 3-2 in the Final, with captain Connor Riley-Lowe scoring a dramatic 96th minute winner.
The White Tigers followed up their promotion with an encouraging start to life back in the National League South, collecting 14 points from the possible 27 available in the opening 9 games of the season. Since then though, a winless run starting in September has seen Wotton’s men collect 2 points from a possible 21, with a defeat on Tuesday to Weymouth continuing this unwanted winless run.
Ahead of this midweek trip to Weymouth’s Bob Lucas Stadium, Truro completed the loan signing of centre back Tom Harrison from Oxford City. Harrison was part of the Hoops side which earned promotion from the National League South last season, and Paul Wotton immediately called on his new defender after starting him in Tuesday’s game.
Truro captain Connor Riley-Lowe is likely to feature at the back along with Harrison. Riley-Lowe has continued to be a mainstay in the White Tigers’ side this season, having been named as the club’s Player of the Year in both 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.
Another key man for Wotton’s side this season has been forward Andrew Neal. After scoring 20 goals in all competitions in the previous two seasons for Truro, Neal has continued to be a goal threat this campaign, having scored 6 league goals this season, making him the White Tigers’ top scorer at present.
Most recent meeting:
City last faced Truro in 2019, picking up a memorable 3-0 away win at Treyew Road, the White Tigers’ then-stadium.
Clarets forwards Scott Fenwick and Rhys Murphy combined for City’s 36th minute opener, with Fenwick getting in-behind the Truro backline and picking out his strike partner Murphy, who finished from close range.
City began the second half strongly, as Jazzi Barnum-Bobb provided the assist for Chelmsford’s second goal of the afternoon. The defender’s cross teed up Chez Issac to slot home past keeper Cory Harvey in the 58th minute.
Less than 10 minutes later, Harvey was handed a red card, with the referee judging a foul by the Truro shot-stopper on Issac to have been a violent conduct offence. With the foul being committed inside the Truro penalty area, City were awarded a spot-kick. Murphy converted, allowing the forward to secure a brace, and ensure that the Clarets would return to Essex with maximum points.
Team News:
With the latest international break over, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb could return to club action after playing two games for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Club captain Dave Winfield will be eligible to play again; Winfield was forced to serve a one game suspension on Monday night after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Aveley last week.
Elsewhere at the back, Ben Brookes will be unavailable this weekend. The full back was on the receiving end of two yellow cards last Saturday against Harborough, and Brookes’ one game suspension will come into play this weekend.
Robbie Simpson issued updates in his programme notes ahead of Monday’s game over the fitness of Samir Carruthers and Josh Castiglione. The manager confirmed both have been ruled out recently after suffering injuries in the 2-2 draw against Chippenham. Simpson explained that he hopes the duo won’t be out of action for “too long”.
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will be providing live audio commentary of proceedings at The Melbourne Community Stadium.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s game, and live updates of proceedings in Essex by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
Words by Jake Dixon.
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