David Wheeler’s shock 73rd-minute goal sealed a “smash and grab” victory for Staines Town as they lifted themselves out of the relegation zone at the expense of Glenn Pennyfather’s City team at Melbourne, leaving the Clarets Manager to reflect on rare, yet costly defensive errors.

 

City suffered the same fate as Woking did a fortnight ago as Town left with the points while Garry Hill’s table toppers were defeated again elsewhere. Glenn was “frustrated and extremely disappointed” that his team let another chance to close the gap go begging and said: “We didn’t defend with enough urgency and it’s cost us a goal.”

 

“We’ve dominated and created a number of chances, with balls flashing across their box and meleés and hitting the woodwork a couple of times, we just couldn’t force them in. Under those circumstances, you’ve got to make sure you keep a clean sheet. The two lads up-front are lively for Staines and they kept setting up passages of play. It’s the law of averages that if you keep allowing them to do that, something will give.”

 

“I’d have been disappointed with a point today, I have to be honest. Now I’m doubly disappointed we’ve taken nothing from the game. We’ve delivered twelve or 14 balls into their box which have caused them problems but they’ve defended well and come here with a game plan. Fair play to them, they’ve frustrated us and hit us on the break. They’ve done it to Woking and they’ve done it to us.”

 

Glenn altered his formation slightly to play two up-front, with striker Cliff Akurang coming in to replace midfielder Craig Parker. On the wings, Michael Bakare’s move into the Football League with Macclesfield Town meant Kevin McLeod was handed his first start for the club and Ricky Modeste was selected ahead of Tosan Popo.

Steve Cordery’s away side started well as Wheeler and Ali Chaaban struck to win corners from goalkeeper Stuart Searle inside the opening 18 minutes. City imposed pressure in spells, with winger Modeste proving a threat, and their first real opening came from a McLeod free kick which was dropped into the far post where neither David Rainford nor Adam Tann could force home with their heads.

 

The 41st minute saw Akurang’s first-time strike from distance force custodian Rhys Evans into an excellent tip over while Kezie Ibe thought he’d given City the lead when he helped an injury-time dead ball onto the bar and down. After the break Akurang fed McLeod and he lofted a strike which Evans had to pluck from the air.

 

The Clarets forced a succession of corners in pursuit of an opener but Staines were capable on the break too, and Chaaban nicked a through ball away from the control of the City defence, although he couldn’t keep it in play. Nevertheless, the visitors did move into the lead when Chelmsford dwelled on the ball and Wheeler claimed it before rolling wide of Searle and low into the net.

 

In response, City brought on goal-scoring midfielder Craig Parker, whose deflected 77th-minute shot careered wide. Then, in injury time, Chelmsford’s last chance saw Rainford bring the ball in from the right and pump at Evans’ goal, the ‘keeper making a super save which meant the Clarets dropped a place to third in the table.

 

But Glenn remained positive, adding: “We’ve lost and Woking have lost - and it’s not just about us two. I know Tony Burman at Dartford won’t have given up catching them, plus Jamie Day over at Welling will still feel they can catch them. For us, today has come and it’s gone. We take the pats on the back and we also have to take the criticism. On another day we could have won, so we’ll pick ourselves up again.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Justin Miller

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Cliff Akurang

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Kevin McLeod

 

12 Tosan Popo (On for Akurang, 62)

14 Greg Morgan

15 Ben Nunn (On for Tann, 90+1)

16 Craig Parker (On for McLeod, 74)

17 Warren Whitely

 

Staines Town: Rhys Evans, Simon Jackson, James Tyrell, Joe Dolan, Adam Thompson, Andre Scarlett (C), David Wheeler (Marc Charles-Smith, 74), Gareth Risbridger, Mark Nwokeji (Richard Butler, 78), Ali Chaaban, Tom Kavanagh. Unused Substitutes: Scott Taylor, Aiden O’Brien, Kyle Merson.

 

Bookings: City: McLeod (27, foul). Staines: Scarlett (69, foul), Risbridger (86, delaying the restart of play).

 

Referee: Neil Hair (Peterborough).

 

Assistant Referees: Christopher Pollard (Stowmarket) and Alan Dale (Ipswich).

 

Attendance: 901.

 

City Man of the Match: Ricky Modeste.