Full-time: Worthing 1-1 Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City and Worthing took a point apiece from their clash at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Clarets took the lead in the 34th minute when Jordan Greenidge finished off a well-worked City team goal.
Referee Harry Wager showed Archie Tamplin a 63rd minute red card after the midfielder caught Worthing man Sam Beard with a late challenge.
The Rebels equalised six minutes after Tamplin’s dismissal when Muhammadu Faal converted Beard’s cross. Forward Faal rose highest in the Clarets’ penalty area and headed the delivery into the top corner of the goal.
Neither side were able to score a winning goal in the final 20 minutes of the proceedings, although Paul Appiah did come close to being an unlikely hero for City when he flashed an effort wide of goal in added time.
Robbie Simpson made four changes to the side which started last week’s defeat to Peterborough Sports. Woody Williamson, Greenidge and Jacob Bland started the game and took the places of Ted Collins, Jake Hyde and Freddie Hockey. Jazzi Barnum-Bobb was put straight into the starting XI to play the first game of his third stint with club. Bunmi Babajide and Glenn McConnell, who have signed for the club this week along with Barnum-Bobb, were both named among City’s five substitutes.
The returning Williamson was called into action in the 11th minute when he made the first save of the afternoon. Williamson stayed alert and tipped Jack Bates’ effort from outside the penalty area over the crossbar and behind for a corner.
Greenidge gave the Clarets the lead in the 34th minute after he clinically finished off a well-worked team move. A passing move which involved Williamson, Sam Gale, Barnum-Bobb, Alfie Bendle and Bland was rounded off by Charlie Ruff and Greenidge, with the former slipping a pass into the path of the latter, whose shot from a tight angle beat Chris Haigh. Worthing continued to enjoy the majority of the possession after going behind, but were unable to find a way a through City’s compact out-of-possession shape.
The hosts were handed a man advantage in the second half when Tamplin was sent off in the 63rd minute. Tamplin was penalised for a late challenge on Beard, with referee Wager opting to show the midfielder a straight red card after he slid in and caught his opponent late.
Chris Agutter’s side made their numerical advantage count six minutes later when Faal scored the equaliser. Faal rose above everyone inside the City penalty area to get on the end of Beard’s cross from the left. The forward’s header found the top corner of the net and left Williamson rooted to the goal line.
The hosts wanted a penalty in the 88th minute when second half substitute Temi Babalola went down in the box following a coming together with Gale, however the Rebels’ appeals to Wager fell on deaf ears.
Clarets substitute Paul Appiah nearly grabbed a dramatic late winner in added time. Sam Oguntayo led a late Clarets breakaway when he burst forward and squared a pass to Appiah. Appiah’s first touch was loose, but the centre back was still able to work a shot towards goal, which flashed across the face of the net and went just wide.
Saturday’s draw extended City’s unbeaten run away from home in the National League South to six games. The Clarets are back in league action next weekend when they host Slough Town at the EMJ Community Stadium, but will first play in the Essex Senior Cup when they visit Billericay Town on Tuesday.
Worthing XI: Haigh (GK); Colbran (Smith 70’), Beard, Cook (Packham 74’), Young, Bates (Babalola 61’), Willard, Spong, Faal, Cashman, Wheeler.
Unused substitutes: Wills, Gregory.
Yellow cards: Colbran, Cook
Chelmsford City XI: Williamson (GK); Barnum-Bobb (Williams 84’), Gale, James ©, Oguntayo; Tamplin, Bendle, Bland, Ruff (Babajide 70’); Foyo (Appiah 78’), Greenidge (McConnell 65’).
Unused substitutes: Kalala.
Yellow cards: Barnum-Bobb, Bendle
Red cards: Tamplin
Match Officials: Harry Wager (Referee), Ryan Chantrill-Smith (Assistant Referee), Dane Johnstone (Assistant Referee), Marcin Indyk (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1125
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