Click here to listen to Glenn's post-match interview.

Other than find the back of Boreham Wood’s net, Chelmsford City achieved just about everything else according to Manager Glenn Pennyfather as resolute defending from the visitors saw them take a Blue Square Bet point away from Melbourne, lifting them further away from the bottom of the table while the Clarets stay in the top eight.

 

The home side overwhelmed their opponents with a succession of chances but couldn’t convert any of them, with Glenn explaining: “I spoke to them [Boreham Wood’s management] afterwards and they knew if we’d scored one it could have opened the floodgates up because they would have needed to come out there. If we play with the same intensity and desire at home the elusive win will be soon. It’s another game unbeaten for us and it’s a clean sheet.”

 

There were three changes to the starting eleven for the visit of the Hertfordshire side. Justin Miller replaced Ben Nunn at right-back while there was a welcome return for central defender Adam Tann, who came in for Mark Haines. In a slightly re-shuffled attack, Cliff Akurang was named as a second striker, with wide man Warren Whitely making way for his inclusion.

 

Contrary to recent form there were no early goals for Chelmsford although there were a couple of dangerous balls across the face of goal including a wicked Aiden Palmer delivery which was clasped by goalkeeper Michael Jordan and an Akurang cross that bounced agonisingly out of the reach of his team mates. Max Cornhill and Akurang again tried their luck mid-way through the half.

 

On the half-hour mark came City’s best opening when Miller made a diagonal run across the pitch with the ball and eventually found himself on the left side of the penalty area, hesitant goalkeeping allowing him to fire an inch wide of the post with his left foot. Corcoran struck well over from distance shortly afterwards and there was an ambitious side-swipe from Nathan Koranteng at the other end which rolled low at ‘keeper Carl Pentney.

 

Chelmsford pressed again towards the end of the half and Corcoran dropped a square cross from the right narrowly too high for Akurang to head at goal in the 36th minute. Akurang later shot over from an angle six yards out and some interplay involving David Rainford saw his shot blocked in the goalmouth. City looked threatening, especially when centurion appearance maker Ricky Modeste had the ball, though the scores remained goalless at the break.

 

Upon the resumption Rainford quickly carved narrowly over from the edge of the area and he was involved again just before the hour. A vicious Modeste drive was deflected over and, from the corner, there was an intense scramble. From the next flag kick moments later, Rainford headed wide at the far post. Miller’s long throws were also causing chaos, Modeste almost profiting from one, while Cornhill and Anthony Cook were the next to head off target.

 

On 69 minutes, however, there was a warning that Boreham Wood were still in the game when a rare attack saw Sam Lechmere dribble round Pentney but shoot into the side netting with only his side’s second effort. Chelmsford’s reply was another glancing Cornhill header at Jordan and a Modeste ball through to Kezie Ibe who tapped home. Unfortunately his effort was in vain due to a foul spotted by the referee earlier in the move.

 

As time ticked away some excellent control and a floated cross by Modeste saw Greg Morgan escape the Boreham Wood rearguard and head wide in space then Modeste was fouled just outside the box ten minutes from the end, presenting Rainford with a dead ball opportunity he daintily hit at Jordan. Koranteng arrowed a late effort towards Pentney and an injury time Miller throw forced Jordan to tip over, but the game finished frustratingly level.

 

Glenn added: “I can’t fault the players today - I thought they were excellent. We dominated from the first whistle to the last and had just one lapse of concentration in the whole game, which is fantastic. The boys took a lot of criticism from myself and Ben after the game on Monday, and the talk on Thursday night at training to put things right was excellent for us. If you’ve got that you’re not going to go far wrong. Apart from scoring a goal we’ve done everything else.”

 

City:

 

1 Carl Pentney

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Cliff Akurang

 

12 Joe Benjamin

14 Jermaine Brown

15 Anthony Cook (On for Corcoran, 65)

16 Mark Haines

17 Greg Morgan (On for Akurang, 46)

 

Boreham Wood: Michael Jordan, Charlie Hunter, Daniel Braithwaite, Justin Cochrane (C), Charlie O’Loughlin, Luke Williamson, Sam Lechmere, Chez Isaac, David Bryant, Darren Currie (Inih Effiong, 59), Nathan Koranteng (Simeon Akinola, 90+2). Unused Substitutes: Osei Sankofa, Karl Beckford, Elvijs Putnins.

 

Bookings: City: Ibe (73, foul). Boreham Wood: O’Loughlin (53, foul), Braithwaite (85, delaying the restart of play).

 

Referee: Mike George (North Walsham).

 

Assistant Referees: Andrew Parker (Stanford-le-Hope) and Mark Potkins (Woodbridge).

 

Attendance: 1,042.

 

City Man of the Match: Ricky Modeste.