Joe Benjamin and Ross Lamb recorded two goals apiece and second half substitute Babatunde Ayodele netted a fifth as City breezed past Ryman League side Great Wakering Rovers to secure their place in the last 16 of the Essex Senior Cup with a 5-2 victory at Burroughs Park.

 

Boss Glenn Pennyfather had numerous causes for optimism after the comfortable win and can now look forward to Friday night’s draw [4:30pm on BBC Essex] to see who the Clarets will face in the next round. He was especially excited with the way members of Bob Batchford’s Reserve Team collaborated with more experienced players from his Blue Square Bet South squad, which Glenn believes bodes well for the future.

 

He said: “It was a good exercise for us as some of the players coming back from injury got valuable minutes on the pitch and the younger lads mixed in and did very, very well. It was nice to see Joe get on the score sheet twice, which will boost his confidence, and Ross showed us why he’s a good prospect with a deserved brace of his own. I was also pleased to see Craig Parker come back and get 90 minutes.”

 

The Clarets took a 12th-minute lead when build-up involving Lamb saw a ball delivered into the danger zone and the bouncing loose ball fell to Benjamin, who clinically found the back of the net. Within five minutes that advantage was doubled, this time the provider converting himself as play developed down the left wing and Scarlett squared to Lamb, who managed to score his first of the evening.

 

With a few minutes of the first half remaining the hosts twice sprung into action through forward Michael Pinder, firstly striking well over the crossbar before bringing a brilliant save from Clarets goalkeeper Lewis Batchford. But their pressure was in vain as Mark Haines broke up another attack which he passed to Scarlett and his accurate through ball enabled Benjamin to burst between two defenders and fire home.

 

David Rainford caused panic in the home defence when he flicked a teasing pass back into the penalty area when running away from goal but he was brought off at the interval alongside Justin Miller, who was also recovering from an injury. Straight after that break City screamed back into action when the 48th minute saw Lamb net brilliantly from long-range to put the Clarets four goals in front.

 

There was no way back for Danny Greaves’ Wakering although they did manage a 64th-minute reply when a foul in the box enabled their skipper, Jack Carlile, to confidently stroke home a penalty kick. Shortly afterwards Chelmsford introduced Ayodele from the substitutes bench and his impact was almost immediate, bringing the ball under control and clipping it beyond ‘keeper Lewis Godwin-Green on 68 minutes.

 

Carlile’s involvement wasn’t over, though, and when Mark Haines was next to foul a home defender in the 18-yard box the hosts’ midfielder planted his second spot kick into the opposite corner two minutes from time. Batchford made another assured block from Pinder before the whistle while Scarlett showed class on the left at the other end to have his shot saved as City claimed a ball in the bag for the Fourth Round draw.

 

“Whatever that brings we’ll look forward to the next tie as this competition has been kind to us over the years and we want to win it again,” said Pennyfather, whose team join Football League clubs Colchester United, Southend United and Dagenham & Redbridge in Round Four. “It would be great to meet a professional club, whether it be at the next stage or if we’re fortunate enough to make the final!”

 

City:

 

1 Lewis Batchford

2 Justin Miller

3 Sam Adjie

4 Ryan Batchford

5 Mark Haines

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Mark Crick

8 Craig Parker

9 Ross Lamb

10 Joe Benjamin

11 Tyrone Scarlett

 

12 Adam Vyse

14 Stuart Latimer (On for Rainford, 46)

15 Pearce Clarke (On for Miller, 46)

16 Babatunde Ayodele (On for Benjamin, 64)

 

Great Wakering Rovers: Louis Godwin-Green, Scott Keys, Sam Holloway, Lance Akins (Nathan Fletcher, 64), Lewis Sparrow, Jamie Salmon, Alberto Pinto, Jack Carlile (C), Ellis Skidmore (Luka Frankis, 58), Michael Pinder, Rory Bone (Brad Warner, 65). Unused Substitutes: None.

 

Bookings: None.

 

Referee: Jonathan Pickford (Leigh-on-Sea).

 

Assistant Referees: Neil West (Leigh-on-Sea) and Adam Miller (Southend-on-Sea).

 

Attendance: 108.

 

City Man of the Match: Ross Lamb.