City got their season up and running with a stellar performance to defeat Havant & Waterlooville on their own patch, quickly building a two-goal cushion as Manager Glenn Pennyfather pawed over some of the best football his squad have produced under his stewardship.

 

An own goal and a Cliff Akurang header put the Clarets in charge as early as the 16th minute at Westleigh Park, with two late penalties from Havant’s Steve Ramsey restoring some respectability to the score. But a clincher in-between from Max Cornhill ensured Chelmsford registered their first Blue Square Bet South points of the campaign and the City boss felt his team should have won by a wider margin.

 

“In the first 25 minutes we saw the best of our team and we could have gone on to score more,” he reacted after the match. “We defended well when they had the ball and we made it difficult to break us down. In the second half we continued and had lots of possession again, creating opportunities, and it was great for Max to get the winner as he’s always getting into the box and he deserved his goal.”

 

Glenn made four changes the team which lost on the opening day, with one enforced as Joe Woolley came in as goalkeeper to replace the unwell Stuart Searle. Greg Morgan was selected on the left wing ahead of Joe Benjamin, Jermaine Brown replaced Sam Corcoran in the heart of midfield and Akurang preferred to Kezie Ibe up-front.

 

Pennyfather revealed: “Stuart was ill and I chose Jermaine because he’s a fantastic holding player who is great for ball retention. Greg came in for his first start as I knew his pace would cause them problems and I know Cliff scored and played well against Havant last season. He was a thorn in their side again all afternoon.”

 

Within 2 minutes of the kick-off Aiden Palmer tested Hawks ‘keeper Nathan Ashmore with a devilish free kick but the home custodian could do nothing more than pick the ball out of his net in the 6th. Morgan sent a teasing cross into the penalty area which Jake Newton headed into his own net to open the scoring.

 

Even at this early stage the visitors were fully in control, skipper David Rainford having an effort cleared off the line, and it was no surprise when Akurang doubled their advantage with a looping header just after the quarter-hour mark. That pattern continued for the rest of the half, Havant’s only real foray forward resulting in a strike hitting the crossbar with a dozen minutes of the period remaining.

 

City were working hard all over the field and seemed to be cruising until a late scare six minutes from time. Grounded substitute Mark Haines had the ball kicked at his arm and the Assistant Referee deemed it to be a penalty, which Ramsey confidently converted. But Cornhill was in no mood for the Clarets’ hard work to be ruined and he flicked the ball home two minutes later following a pinpoint Warren Whitely cross.

 

Nerves were tested once more a minute into stoppage time when another handball, this time from Kenny Clark, presented Havant with a second penalty which was netted with equal aplomb by Ramsey. Though Pennyfather’s team negotiated the final few minutes to shut out the desperate hosts and move up the table as a result.

 

Glenn said: “You always worry when you’re in such a comfortable position then a goal goes in, especially as I don’t think they deserved their penalties because Joe has hardly had a save to make. The scoreline didn’t reflect the game but we held on at the end and showed the character we’ll need to show if we’re to do well this season.”

 

City:

 

1 Joe Woolley

2 Ben Nunn

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Greg Morgan

8 Jermaine Brown

9 Cliff Akurang

10 Max Cornhill

11 Ricky Modeste

 

12 Joe Benjamin

14 Sam Corcoran

15 Mark Haines (On for Tann, 76)

16 Kezie Ibe (On for Modeste, 74)

17 Warren Whiteley (On for Morgan, 70)

 

Havant & Waterlooville: Nathan Ashmore, Jake Newton, Jon McDonald, Paul Hinshelwood, Chris Holland, Sam Pearce, Wes Fogden, Steve Ramsey, Lee Peacock (C) (Scott Jones, 60), Sammy Igoe (Warren McBean, 46), Craig Braham-Barrett. Unused Substitutes: Bobby Scott, Ryan Woodford, Lyall Beazely (GK).

 

Bookings: City: Haines (86, dissent), Palmer (90, foul).

 

Referee: Adam Bromley (Plymouth).

 

Assistant Referees: David Ricketts (Bristol) and Martin Veater (Radstock).

 

Attendance: 692.

 

City Man of the Match: Cliff Akurang.