Man of the Match Adam Tann’s 93rd-minute strike sealed all three Blue Square Bet South points for Chelmsford from a testing match at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, prompting Clarets Manager Glenn Pennyfather to praise his team’s concentration right up until the last kick of the game.

 

Central defender Tann capped a brilliant personal display, as part of an organised rearguard, by tucking away his chance from a few yards in injury time and help to send Chelmsford into the top six. Pennyfather believes it was no more than his team deserved after learning lessons from a previous away game.

 

He said: “This isn’t going to be an easy place for teams to come as they’re full time, which makes this result all the better. It was a rubbish journey over here so it was great to put in this performance. We lost two points at Maidenhead in this fashion and the players know you have to play from the first whistle to the last.”

 

Chelmsford’s starting eleven was unchanged for a match which was effectively contained within the last 21 minutes. The first period was unspectacular, as Glenn explained: “We deserved it for the chances we created in the second half after the first was all about ‘huff and puff’ for both sides, with defences on top. We changed a few things after half time which enabled us to play further up the pitch and cause them problems.”

 

The spectators had to wait until the 69th minute for the first real opportunity of the game, which fell to the hosts when Brian Dutton’s long ball was received by Josh Casey before it hit his marker and careered just wide. At the other end, on 74 minutes, on-loan goalkeeper Conor Gough had to be alert to make a double save, rushing out to block one chance then getting up to thwart the headed rebound.

 

As the game began to open up, with Chelmsford counter-attacking, Gough was tested again with an effort he had to turn around the post. Meanwhile, a very late, swiftly taken free kick for the hosts was played into Adam Kelly, whose header wrapped the upright. But Tann fared much better in injury time, getting onto the end of a corner at the death before rolling home at the far post from close range.

 

At full time, with Eastleigh coming up on Monday night at Melbourne, Glenn reflected: “Stuart Searle hasn’t really had a save to make but he did a lot of sweeping today which helped out the defence, who were solid again today and kept another welcome clean sheet. Salisbury are as good a side as we’ve played so far so to beat them is a real achievement, but now we have to look ahead.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann (C)

5 Kenny Clark

6 Joe Benjamin

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Cliff Akurang

 

12 Jermaine Brown

14 Mark Haines

15 Greg Morgan (On for Benjamin, 49)

16 Ben Nunn

17 Warren Whitely

 

Salisbury City: Conor Gough, Ryan Brett, Josh Casey, Lewis Stockford (Darrell Clarke, 71), Brian Dutton, Chris Giles (C), Adam Kelly, Stuart Anderson, Dan Fitchett, Robbie Matthews, Charlie Knight (Jake Reid, 59). Unused Substitutes: Tommy Smith (GK), Matt Wright, Claudio Herbert.

 

Bookings: City: Benjamin (37, foul), Tann (90+3, excessive goal celebration). Salisbury: Brett (25, foul), Dutton (63, foul).

 

Referee: Richard Martin (Bristol).

 

Assistant Referees: Martin Veater (Midsomer Norton) and David Bryant (Weston-super-Mare).

 

Attendance: 763.

 

City Man of the Match: Adam Tann.