Missed chances cost the Clarets at Maidenhead as Glenn Pennyfather believed they were robbed of all three points when Ashan Holgate headed in a 93rd-mnute leveller for the hosts, but the City boss remained defiant that his side can “beat anyone in this league” when they convert their opportunities.

 

Kezie Ibe had put City in front on just 5 minutes and the visitors went on to craft many more openings without success, Glenn claiming: “We could have had more than a one-goal advantage under our belts and we were defensively sound. For all their pressure in the second half, Carl didn’t have to make a save in our goal. I think it was a little bit of naivety on our part not to run the clock down towards the end.”

 

Goalkeeper Carl Pentney returned to the Number One jersey in place of Stuart Searle, who was able to give further rest to a groin strain, while Jermaine Brown was selected in the centre of midfield instead of David Rainford. City’s skipper was also nursing a knock so Adam Tann assumed the role of Captain for the day.

 

The Clarets made their customary blistering start but also relied on Tann to nod Andrew Fagan’s effort off the goal line from Anthony Thomas’ free kick. However, City were in front as Brown found Cliff Akurang on the left flank and he centred for Ibe, who got across Daniel Brown to prod in his third goal in two games.

 

From that moment, Chelmsford were in control and Leon Soloman was inches away from slicing into his own net in the 13th minute when Ibe crossed from Sam Corcoran’s excellent range-finder. Goalkeeper Sam Beasant also produced a fine save as Corcoran drove Ibe’s knock-down goalwards seven minutes later.

 

The Magpies’ opportunities were largely restricted to set pieces and, after Tann and Aiden Palmer had ushered Martel Powell’s cross out for a corner, Thomas delivered the flag-kick to the near post where John Scarborough powered his header wide.

 

At the other end Beasant, son of former Wimbledon and Chelsea shot-stopper Dave, produced a remarkable triple save on the half-hour to keep the scoreline at 1-0. First he clambered at full stretch to his right to get his hand to Max Cornhill’s skidding shot, then he denied Ricky Modeste from the rebound before bouncing to his feet and keeping the winger’s follow-up out as well.

 

Modeste was at the centre of a contentious moment two minutes later when he was upended by Soloman, who was eventually booked after the referee had contended with a melee that also resulted in Maidenhead substitute Bobby Behzadi being cautioned. City continued to see plenty of the ball, but Thomas was unfortunate in first half stoppage time when his bouncing shot shaved Pentney’s right-hand post.

 

A slumbering second period was ignited by the introduction of the Magpies’ Sierra Leone international forward Ishmail Kamara ten minutes after the interval. First Kamara’s cross had to be intercepted by Palmer at the back post on 64 minutes before the forward wasted an excellent opportunity to level, smashing over from Holgate’s flick-on.

 

City responded, first when Ibe chested Pentney’s goal kick into the path of Cornhill, who drew another impressive stop from Beasant, and then by introducing Anthony Cook in place of Modeste. In-between, the visitors to York Road were let-off when Holgate headed Thomas’ free kick against the crossbar, with Pentney and Kenny Clark combining to keep out the rebound.

 

It seemed as though Chelmsford had ridden out the storm, especially when Cook’s piledriver from a Tann header had to be blocked on the goal line by Soloman in the 86th minute, but that was before the game’s cruel denouement. Tann appeared to be shoved off-balance, resulting in Kamara falling in-turn to win a free kick on the left.

 

With just seconds of the allotted three minutes of injury time remaining, Holgate stooped to glance Thomas’ delivery into the net and grab a dramatic equaliser. Glenn reacted: “I’ve got no complaints about the goal itself as it was a great ball into the box which was very difficult to defend against, it’s just the manner of the goal which disappoints me as I didn’t think it was a free kick.”

 

City now sit in ninth place, within sight of the top five as they head into FA Cup action at Lowestoft Town in a week’s time. Pennyfather was disappointed with the dropped points but continued: “When the ball ran out we were rushing to get it back in play again when perhaps we should have calmed things down.”

 

“Having dominated the first half and created chances to go further in front, we didn’t take them and were caught by the sucker punch at the end. But we’re still unbeaten away, it’s another point and we’ve only suffered one defeat in twelve games. And I know that if we put those opportunities away we have enough to beat anyone in this league.”

 

City:

 

1 Carl Pentney

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann (C)

5 Kenny Clark

6 Jermaine Brown

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Cliff Akurang

 

12 Joe Benjamin (On for Ibe, 90)

14 Anthony Cook (On for Modeste, 76)

15 Mark Haines

16 Ben Nunn

17 Warren Whitely

 

Maidenhead United: Sam Beasant, Leon Solomon, Andrew Fagan, Daniel Brown, Leigh Hendry, John Scarborough, Martel Powell, Will Hendry (Bobby Behzadi, 23), Ashan Holgate, Anthony Thomas, Reece Tilson-Lascaris (Ishmail Kamara, 55). Unused Substitutes: Nevin Saroya, Jordan Clement.

 

Bookings: City: Cornhill (21, foul). Maidenhead: Soloman (37, foul), Behzadi (37, unsporting behaviour).

 

Referee: John Busby (Berinsfield, Oxford).

 

Assistant Referees: Benjamin James (Carterton) and Stuart Jackson (Carterton).

 

Attendance: 355.

 

City Man of the Match: Kezie Ibe.