City will begin their involvement in this season’s FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON with a Preliminary Round home tie against AFC Hornchurch tonight at Melbourne Stadium, kick-off 7:30pm, with Braintree Town waiting in the wings to host the winners.

The Chelmsford Youth Team, this season under the management of Paul Nicholson, will hope to at least match their impressive run of last season and victory over the Urchins would see them take-on more fellow Essex opposition in Braintree during the week beginning 20th September. Should they prevail again they would host Codicot, Grays Athletic or St Margaretsbury in the Second Qualifying Round in October. The entry prices for the Hornchurch match are £3 for adults an £1 for concessions.

Defender Haines Praises Persistence: Clarets Defender Mark Haines believes it was patience that saw Glenn Pennyfather’s team pick up the points from their Blue Square Bet South encounter with Dorchester Town last Saturday.

Two late Sam Higgins goals helped to claim the 2-0 victory at Melbourne and Haines announced: “We always knew the gaffa said before the game they were going to be tough and solid. They came here on the back of six games without a win and we were just going to get at them. We had to be patient on the ball and work our way through to the goal, staying sharp at the back with another clean sheet.”

Click here to listen to the full Mark Haines interview after the Dorchester Town game.