Click here to listen to Glenn’s post-match views and a close season summary.

 

Football League opposition left Melbourne with only a draw to show for their night’s endeavours as a goal from Anthony Cook earned Glenn Pennyfather’s Clarets a well-deserved draw against Stevenage, though the City Head Coach felt his team had done more than enough to emerge victorious from the contest.

 

Cook’s 58th-minute strike, which rounded off a glorious passing move, put Chelmsford’s experimental side into a lead which was preserved until late in the game when Charlie Griffin levelled from distance. Though Pennyfather was able to offer game time to 20 players on the night and was as delighted with the performances of his existing players as he was to run the rule over a posse of potential signings for the new campaign.

 

He explained: “It was a good workout. They are a strong side and proved that last year by winning the Conference, which is a tough league. They are a big, strong, uncompromising side with good strength in depth and I was pleased with how we played tonight - we played when we could play. It was the first game of the season for us and it was their third so I was pleased with our fitness levels and concentration.”

 

City were without striker Rob Edmans and defender Ben Nunn, who both sustained minor knocks in training the night before and were not risked, while skipper Dave Rainford was on a family holiday. Forward Sam Higgins is still a week or two away from his return after an operation while there were new faces on trial in Ahmed Deen at left-back, goalkeeper James Pullen and Korean right midfielder Kim Jingo.

 

Ricky Modeste looked lively throughout the first period and it was the City youngster who crafted the first effort at goal, fending off an 11th-minute challenge on his way through before shooting weakly at goalkeeper Chris Day. Six minutes later it was the turn of Matthew Lock to register an attempt though his strike from distance flew over.

 

The two then combined with 32 minutes played as Modeste speedily raced past Stacy Long who crudely wrestled him down with only the ‘keeper to beat. From the resulting free-kick, Lock’s effort was too high and the only remaining act of the half was for Long himself to crack a left-footer inches wide of the near angle from the edge of the box.

 

After half-time it was the hosts who grabbed the early initiative and they took the lead in sublime fashion just prior to the hour mark. Lock’s splendid, inch-perfect cross field pass from left to right picked out Modeste who nicked the ball inside to the arriving Cook and he nonchalantly swept the ball into the bottom corner, rounding-off a tidy move.

 

In a second half dominated by regular substitutions it was difficult to generate a rhythm  though a 66th-minute delivery from the right forced Day to try and claim from above former Stevenage midfielder John Martin’s head and the loose ball which followed was hit goalbound by Ahmed Deen only to see it blocked and cleared away.

 

Chelmsford produced some neat, possession football for spells during this period though their earlier goal brought an extra gear out of Graham Westley’s team and substitute Chris Dickson dribbled the ball round another replacement, City ‘keeper Shane Gore, close to the corner flag. His cross would have been troublesome had it not been obstructed.

 

The visitors did get on the score sheet, though, with nine minutes left as Griffin found space outside the penalty area to strike in off the foot of the post for an equaliser. This frustrated Pennyfather, who felt his side were good value for a win. But, despite a heavier than anticipated rotation of his squad – Anthony Finn was announced as a signing of Bromley’s earlier in the day – he remained optimistic about the season ahead.

 

Glenn stated: “We’ve had a turnaround of personnel for various reasons and there have been lots of new faces. There was a big rebuild last year and I was hoping it wouldn’t be as big a rebuild this year but there are lots of players available and as long as players are sensible we want to get the best we possibly can and compete. You can see tonight that we talk about desire a lot but they’ve got quality as well and it’s an exciting time.”

 

“If players become available, whatever the position, if they can improve our team and it fits within our budget then fantastic. I’ve got one or two faces I’m very interested in but I think also experience is important. If I can get one or two experienced heads alongside the younger boys it will certainly make a massive difference. We will be running with a small squad but we’re hopeful it will be a squad of quality.”

 

City:

 

1 James Pullen

2 Anthony Cook

3 Ahmed Deen

4 Mark Haines

5 Sami El-Abd

6 Stephen Reed

7 Kim Jingo

8 John Martin

9 Simon Thomas

10 Matthew Lock

11 Ricky Modeste

 

1 Shane Gore (GK) (On for Pullen, 46)

10 Tyrone Scarlett (On for Patterson, 86)

12 Dylan Chapman (On for Modeste, 78)

12 Josh Llewellyn (On for Thomas, 62)

14 Ryan Batchford

16 Kim Seok Beom (On for Deen, 68)

17 Marlon Patterson (On for Jingo, 46)

2 Lauris Coggin (On for Cook, 70)

8 Jamie Davis (On for Lock, 74)

9 Lee Sang Hun (On for Martin, 68)

 

Stevenage: Chris Day (1), Ronnie Henry (25) (Peter Vincenti [30], 77), Scott Laird (3), Darius Charles (4) (David Bridges [18], 46), Mark Roberts (14) (C), Lawrie Wilson (2) (Darren Murphy [7], 65), Michael Bostwick (24), Stacy Long (8) (Warren McBean [No Number], 69), Tim Sills (19) (John Grant [No Number], 46), Lee Boylan (10) (Chris Dickson [No Number], 59), Peter Winn (17) (Charlie Griffin [9], 46). Unused Substitutes: None.

 

Bookings: None.

 

Referee: Robert Whitton (Bocking).

 

Assistant Referees: David Campbell (Chelmsford) and Peter Wilson (Chelmsford).

 

Attendance: 306.

 

City Man of the Match: Ricky Modeste.