City’s 7,000th competitive goal was enough to clinch a joint club record of 18 consecutive matches unbeaten as a Craig Parker equaliser, his third in three games, claimed a point at league leaders Woking, Clarets boss Glenn Pennyfather claiming: “We’ve proved that they’re catchable!”

 

The in-form midfielder, who made his first league start ahead of striker Michael Bakare, ensured it was a statistician’s dream at the Kingfield Stadium and set-up a tantalising FA Trophy encounter between the two at Melbourne on Saturday. The Cards maintained their grip on top spot while City remained within sight, Glenn adding: “Now we’ve shown Woking what we’re about and kept them in touch.”

 

“They’re a lot of points ahead but now it’s time for others to step up and take things away from this ground - it’s possible. Both teams found it tough but went for the win. We probably had the better chances when you add them up and passed it better in the second half, but they had opportunities as well. We’ve come away with our unbeaten record intact and put a marker down that we mean business.”

 

Chelmsford were on the offensive from the start and, inside the 1st minute, David Rainford’s header brought a good save from Cards goalkeeper Aaron Howe. That was about it for the opening stages of a competitive encounter until Woking’s ex-Farnborough midfielder Jack King shot just wide on 20 minutes.

 

Seconds later, Woking moved in front against the run of play when a flighted free kick was sent into the box and Adam Doyle was free to dispatch a looping header into the top corner. Despite going behind, City were still in contention and Kezie Ibe sent the ball across the face of goal with Max Cornhill lurking. Cornhill also became tangled when trying to convert a 33rd-minute Warren Whitely pass on the break.

 

Justin Miller was getting forward from right full-back to good effect for the visiting Clarets as the hosts began to rock a little defensively before the break, and it was from one of his runs that Chelmsford profited. He worked his way inside and left Doyle for dead on 36 minutes before laying the ball across goal to Parker, whose vicious shot left Howe with no chance as it found the corner of the net.

 

Miller remained a real threat to Woking beyond the interval, although the home team made substitutions and positional changes which aided their cause. Moses Ademola was a key protagonist and his pace finished with a cross on 61 minutes which King couldn’t force home. Former Clarets front man Wayne Gray scuffed a later effort.

 

There were tense moments in both goalmouths as time ticked away, defender Alan Inns seeing his 72nd-minute header being cleared off the Chelmsford goal line while Ademola threatened once more with eight minutes remaining. Neither side could find a winner, but Glenn was delighted with the point and the club’s new records.

 

He said: “It’s been a fantastic run so far and it’s great for our players and staff to have made a little bit of history. I had no doubt about giving Craig a start today to make us more compact and enhance our passing range and now we look towards Saturday and Woking again, with both of us thinking Trophy success is a realistic aim.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Warren Whitely

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Craig Parker

 

12 Michael Bakare

14 Joe Benjamin

15 Jermaine Brown

16 Mark Haines

17 Ben Nunn

 

Woking: Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Jay Davies (Derek Duncan, 46), Mark Ricketts (C), Alan Inns, Adam Doyle, Paris Cowan-Hall (Elvis Hammond, 46), Jack King, Moses Ademola, Wayne Gray (Ola Sogbanmu, 77), Dale Binns. Unused Substitutes: Giuseppe Sole, Andy Little (GK).

 

Bookings: City: Corcoran (65, foul). Woking: Inns (foul), Ademola (foul).

 

Referee: Paul Harris (Maidstone).

 

Assistant Referees: David Spain (Westfield) and John Pike (Hassocks).

 

Attendance: 1,558.

 

City Man of the Match: Kenny Clark.