Another long trip was endured by the Clarets, as they were back down to the Southwest and down to Yeovil. It was another Saturday then Monday set of fixtures, as the Clarets were looking to continue their unbeaten streak. It would be a tough test, against Yeovil who had not lost at home so far. That proved so, as the game was held goalless, right up until the 87th minute. Not long after that, another late goal meant that the sides shared the points.
Robbie opted to bring Dave Winfield back into defence, following the captain’s absence in the starting lineup on Monday. He joined Jenkins and Brookes in the back. In midfield, it was Dabre dropping out as Anthony Wordsworth came back in, following his injury. The final change saw Adam Mills out of the side, with Charlie Ruff coming back into the starting side, following his assist from the bench last time out. On the bench, Dabre, Bettamer, Mills, Hockey and Watts were waiting in the wings to provide from the bench, if they were needed.
KICK OFF:
Charlie Ruff kicked us off at Huish Park with Chelmsford’s opponents today a former Championship side just 9 seasons ago. It was former West Ham attacker Frank Nouble looking to pull the strings early on as Jazzi Barnum-Bobb turned behind for a corner early on. It was swung in well, toward the back post until Josh Oluwayemi was able to clear the ball well with his fists. The Clarets were cautious in the first 10, as they did not look to rush their play but work themselves into the Yeovil half. A chance did spring up after a superb Wordsworth ball was flicked wide by Ruff. Barnum-Bobb picked it up, but his cross was way too deep and behind for a goal kick. However, the Clarets nearly caused their own problems, as they gave it away in their own box. Jenkins gave it to Jordan Young who found the experienced Nouble in the box. Looking to shoot, he was crowded out and, luckily for Luke Jenkins, Josh Oluwayemi was able to provide a good save and hold the ball well.
It was Yeovil’s ex-Hammer Nouble who looked to use his strength to bully Luke Jenkins, but it was the Chelmsford defender who was coming out on top. Nouble soon lost possession and the Clarets looked to come forward. Some neat play between the triangle of Brookes, Francis and Carruthers nearly brought a good chance as the latter sent a ball into the box, but Wordsworth was not able to Wannell. A golden opportunity came as Yeovil nearly caused their own problems. It was given away and Ruff played a great ball to Callum Jones, who was in. Looking up, he took a touch and smashed an effort at goal, only for the experienced Joe Day to pull off a good save. The resulting corner was dealt with well by Yeovil, as they cleared their lines efficiently.
The Clarets were growing with confidence, as Jermaine Francis performed a beautiful tackle on his fellow number 20, Zac Bell. He won a throw-in which brought the danger. Thrown to Ruff, he played a give and go with Francis before looking to put the ball into the box. It was sliced behind but dealt with, as the Clarets had another set piece. However, this time it was Joe Day up for the challenge as he punched through and cleared well. Unfortunately, Robbie was forced into his first substitute of the day, just halfway through the half. Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, after being down twice, was off and Adam Mills was his replacement, seeing Francis switched to the right-hand side.
Chelmsford were starting to flow as their possession grew and they caught out their hosts. A corner had been won thanks to some good work by Callum Jones. It was a quick free kick which unlocked Yeovil as Carruthers gave it to Brookes. The delivery was dangerous, and a few efforts followed for the Clarets. Most notably, Ruff’s header forced a great save from Joe Day, as he dived down to his right to make the save. Yeovil managed to clear, as Sonny Blu Lo-Evrton looked to counter. However, with the ball going out, he kicked the ball away and was the first name into referee Steven Hughes’ book. The third into the book, after Wordsworth was somehow booked was Eze Ebuzoeme. A counterattack was stopped by him, giving Yeovil a great shooting opportunity from a free kick. It was Jordan Young who stepped up, left footed over the wall but Josh Oluwayemi sprang across his box to make a fantastic save, and turn behind for the corner. The delivery was excellent and flicked on at the front post. Somehow, Yeovil did not run home as the ball seemed to deflect wide of the Clarets’ goal, as they got away with one.
As the half looked to come to a close, Yeovil were the team with the ball. Jordan Young was once again the dangerman, as he put a dangerous cross into the box. It was aimed towards Frank Nouble but, he was not able to connect but still caused a problem, seeing Oluwayemi claw away well. The resulting corner was delivered in deep again but as per, it was cleared by the Clarets. We crossed over into the 4 added minutes with the Clarets back on top. Some beautiful passing play almost turned the key as the Yeovil defence looked dumfounded before Carruthers overhit his pass. With the Clarets then failing to make a corner pay, the referee ended the half and saw the sides go in level at Huish Park.
HALF TIME: YTFC 0-0 CCFC
The hosts restarted the game and got the first chance of the half. The first half theme continued as Jordan Young was Yeovil’s dangerman. He fizzed an enticing ball across the box, where Jake Hyde challenged and caught Josh Oluwayemi as both players went down. Hyde was brought to his feet pretty swiftly however, the same couldn’t be said for Josh Oluwayemi. He was helped to his feet after a few minutes on the floor and was set to continue. However, after getting the game back underway, Josh Oluwayemi looked to have given a goal away. It was passed out but only to Yeovil’s Jake Hyde, who had just collided with Oluwayemi. Hyde looked destined to score but tried to be too silky, as he looked to chip the keeper. Oluwayemi was down but clawed it away, to produce a fantastic save. Yeovil continued to cause problems, as Frank Nouble was then given a chance. Instead of taking on Jenkins, he snapped at a shot but, at the angle, sliced well wide.
With Nouble off at the hour mark, it was former Claret Rhys Murphy on in his place. Looking to drive the chance forward Murhpy brought the ball down well and sent the ball inside. Some great quick play saw Lo-Evrton find Young. A corner was won and brought danger again. Flicked on at the front, it caused penalty box chaos. They fired the ball back in, but it was only cleared back out of the box by the Clarets. The pressure was on, as Yeovil were keeping up the tempo.
Entering the final 20, Robbie Simpson utilised his last 2 substitutes. Callum Jones and Charlie Ruff left the field, as Freddie Hockey and Mo Bettamer were their replacements. The attacking substitutes showed the Clarets looking for the points as Bettamer was straight involved, using his physical and ariel ability. With the minutes ticking away, the chances were seemingly as neither side were opening the door at either end. Yeovil rolled the dice with another save as Sonny Blu Lo-Evrton, on a booking, was replaced by Jordan Stevens. The final 10 minutes and it was Stevens the substitute with a golden chance. Bringing down the ball, it was 3 on 2 for Yeovil and Stevens had to square it. His attempt was futile as he slipped and could only hit the side netting, much to the Clarets relief. Yeovil’s set pieces had caused trouble and they looked to do that late on. Sent in deep, Wannell headed across only for the ball to come back out to him. Battling with Bettamer, he sent the ball back, but Yeovil only then gave the ball away as Wordsworth intercepted.
From recycling the possession, the Clarets got their best chance. The ball was played wide for Freddie Hockey as he looked to provide a chance. He twisted and turned, sending his man the wrong way before executing a delicious cross. Josh Stanton, Yeovil’s captain turned straight at his own goal, only for Joe Day to produce an outstanding save at full stretch. However, parried only into his box, Adam Mills pounced. The substitute raced in and poked him, as the Clarets took the lead right at the dead. Mills wheeled away in celebration, as he and the team ran over to the travelling Clarets fans. The celebrations were wild, before the Clarets looked to endure the final few minutes.
6 were added on, and Yeovil struck almost immediately. Jordan Stevens, much like Freddie Hockey, twisted and turned as he looked for a ball into the box. His pass across was deflected and straight on a plate for Alex Whittle. He struck, low and hard and in. Taking a slight deflection, Oluwayemi just could not reach it as it nestled into the far corner. Yeovil levelled and had stolen a point back off the Clarets. With 6 added, 9 were played until referee Steven Hughes brought a close to a thrilling final 15 minutes, as both teams settled for the point.
The Clarets maintained their unbeaten run in the season whereas Yeovil’s unbeaten home run continued.
FULL TIME: YTFC 1-1 CCFC
Chelmsford City:
Oluwayemi (GK), Brookes, Wordsworth, Winfield (C), Ebuzoeme, Carruthers, Jenkins, Jones (Bettamer 72’), Ruff (Hockey 72’), Barnum-Bobb (Mills 23’), Francis
Unused subs: Dabre, Watts
Goal: Mills 87’
Cautions: Wordsworth 35’, Ebuzoeme 37’, Mills 70’,
Yeovil Town:
Day (GK), Williams, Whittle, Wannell, Hyde, Young (Maguire-Drew 88’), Blu Lo-Evrton (Stevens 79’), Bell, Cooper, Nouble (Murphy 60’), Staunton (C)
Unused subs: Sendles-White, Owers
Goal: Whittle 90’
Cautions: Blu Lo-Evrton 33’, Zac Bell 56’
Words by Josh Lowe
Cover image by Roger Robinson Photography
Attendance: 2,933
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