Sunday 16^th October 2011

Chelmsford City 3 Grays Athletic 1 

Chelmsford City and Grays Athletic met each other for the third week running and this time City came out on top in a hard fought and competitive match. Chelmsford City started strongly passing well and pushing hard for the opener. Unseasonably fine weather and a good quality pitch suited City’s passing game in particular. Ross Meldrum made a welcome return from injury and was sharp on the right side of mid-field. Meldrum combined well with Tom Leaning making some incisive runs and creating a number of opportunities. This was mirrored on the left with Tom Mitchell and Will Bray working well together.

In contrast to the previous week, City was quicker to the tackle and worked hard from back to front. It was no surprise that City opened the scoring when a cross by Ross Meldrum was dropped by the Grays’ keeper and Tom Mitchell followed up to put the ball away for 1-0. In one of the best moves of the game City played the ball out of defence into midfield where Bradley Bover picked it up and played a great ball out to Will Bray who then ran on to the edge of the box where fired a shot just over.

In another good effort a free kick by Meldrum was just missed by Tom Mitchell. Tom was unlucky with another attempt when a header from a Meldrum free kick went just wide. Bradley Raymond and Jamie Wardley worked hard to win possession and stifle the Grays’ midfield. In defence Alex Smith, Luke Cubberley and Michael Norfolk played well dealing comfortably with the high ball over the top. Just before half time City went 2-0 up when Meldrum made a powerful run down the right wing and played in Tom Leaning who powered into the box and fired a shot into the top right hand corner.

In the second half City began brightly and built up strong pressure winning a number of corners which they were unlucky not to finish off. Leaning was unlucky when he broke the off-side and when one on one with the Grays’ keeper brought out a great save from short range. Grays never gave up on the game and put in a number of strong challenges and tackles. They were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Elliot Cockrell spread himself to block a good Grays’ effort. Jake Thompson, Regan Marney and Connor Fincham came on in the second half and had an immediate impact. Connor Fincham was unlucky when his side footed effort hit the bar. Fincham was again unlucky when another goal attempt was blocked by the Grays’ keeper. Following another City corner the ball pinged around the penalty area and eventually broke to Michael Norfolk who sent his attempt just over.

Whilst City pressed hard for another score they were vulnerable to the break and Grays exploited this to pull a goal back. A break down City’s right wing saw the ball reach Grays’ centre forward who took his opportunity well firing the ball low to Cockrell’s right hand for 2-1. This gave Grays encouragement and they pushed hard for an equaliser. The game ebbed and flowed in the last five minutes and Meldrum made a powerful run into the box and fired in a shot that was parried by the Grays’ keeper. This was followed up by Cubberley but his effort was blocked by the defence. However, City was not to be denied and deservedly got a third goal when Thompson rose highest to head home a Meldrum corner (3-1). City were deserving of the victory which was just reward for hard work and some good passing football.