April 10, 2023
Easter Monday saw the meeting of the sides in 3rd and 4th place in National League One. Although level on points, Oxford City had the better goal difference but Chelmsford importantly had a game in hand.
Both sides should comfortably achieve a place in the top 7 to make the promotion play-offs, but finishing 2nd or 3rd grants home advantage in the promotion semi-final, and one less game to navigate, as 4th to 7th play-off to earn the right to visit 2nd and 3rd
The Clarets went into the fixture in good form, with 5 wins in their last 6 matches, with a battling 3-2 win over Farnborough on Good Friday. On the same day, Oxford City lost 0-3 at Ebbsfleet, in a match which saw the Kent club clinch the National League One South title with four games to spare. Since these diaries covered The Hoops’ 1-2 home defeat at the hands of Farnborough they had won three and drawn two of their matches prior to the visit to Ebbsfleet. Following that reverse they now had a record of 2 defeats in 17 league games in 2023.
The Oxford City side today was missing Antiguan international Josh Parker, their top scorer with 16 goals this season, and Klaidi Lolos, with 14 goals, was surprisingly on the bench. In their place was young Jimmy Hill look-alike and Fulham loanee Olly Sanderson, back for a second spell at Court Place Farm.
The most familiar name in the Clarets line-up was ex-Canada international striker Simeon Jackson ( 49 caps ), who as well as making 2 appearances on loan for Oxford City in 2020/21, had a career including spells with Gillingham, Norwich, Eintracht Braunschweig, Millwall, Blackburn and St Mirren amongst others. Keeper Eddie Beach recently represented Wales Under 21s and is on loan from Chelsea, and ex Ipswich, Millwall and Wimbledon midfielder Liam Trotter sounds like a relative of Del-boy and Rodney, but clearly isn’t ! Substitute Jazzi Barnum-Bobb could instead be a move on Strictly Come Dancing, but is actually a St Vincent and Grenadines international.
In the meeting between the two sides back in September, Chelmsford won 1-0 with a goal in the 90th minute. Last season, Oxford City took 4 points from Chelmsford, with a 1-1 home draw, and a 2-1 victory at Melbourne Stadium as The Hoops achieved their highest finish in the non-league pyramid of 5th. In the abbreviated 2021/22 season, Oxford City also took 4 points, with a 4-1 home win and a 1-1 away draw.
Over the years, I have seen Chelmsford City play 6 times. The first occasion was in 1970 in an FA Cup First Round tie at Crawley Town, when Southern League Premier Chelmsford were one of the top non-league sides in the country, and were expected to easily see off their lower division opponents. However, Crawley probably deserved more than the 1-1 draw, but were hammered 1-6 in the replay !
One famous story around this tie was Crawley goal-keeper John Maggs broke his hand the week before the cup-tie. He apparently went to the doctor and after the diagnosis asked if he would still be able to play football ? The doctor replied sure no problem, and as Maggs was on the way out asked “What position do you play ?” Maggs replied “Goal-keeper” and hurriedly left the building, and played a blinder in the home draw.
The sides were drawn against each other two years later, this time in the 4th qualifying round, again at Crawley’s Town Mead ground. This time class prevailed as Chelmsford easily won 2-0, and went onto progress to the Third Round proper where 15,557 crammed into New Writtle Street, as they put up a good showing against Ipswich, losing 1-3 against a side that finished 4th in the old First Division that season. The Ipswich side that day included Mick Mills, Kevin Beattie, Bryan Hamilton, David Johnson, Trevor Whymark, Colin Viljoen and Allan Hunter !
In 1987/88 Crawley were able to overcome a Clarets side including future Brighton and Hove Albion star Adrian Owers and ex-Crawley centre-back Andy Coghill, with a 2-1 win in the Beazer Homes Premier League. Crawley also chalked up another win in a Christmas fixture in the 1992/93, when in front of a crowd of 960, a penalty from ex-Wimbledon striker Paul Fishenden and a brace from Craig Whittington saw them take the three points.
My one visit to Chelmsford came on New Years Day in 1994 when two goals from Jimmy Dack gave the Red Devils a 2-1 win. That match was played in front of a crowd of 851 at Chelmsford’s old New Writtle Street, which is now a housing estate. The Clarets’ line-up that day included tricky winger Steve Restarick, who had a tremendous game, and later joined Crawley in 1996.
In 2018/19 I saw Chelmsford win 3-1 at Oxford City. Kabongo Tshimanga, now at Peterborough, scored for The Hoops whilst Rhys Murphy scored twice for the Clarets. Murphy importantly scored 9 goals in 15 games in 2015 on loan for Crawley, which were a major factor in them avoiding relegation that season, and is now at Southend, having also played for Oldham, Telstar, Dagenham and Brentford amongst others. A crowd of 302 watched that encounter.
After a relatively warm and sunny Bank Holiday week-end, the weather turned, with heavy rain most of the morning. At least with Oxford City’s artificial surface there was less chance of the game being called off due to a waterlogged pitch. At the 15.00 kick-off time the rain had stopped, the skies were blue and the temperature was around 13 degrees. However, 40mph winds were forecast.
Perhaps a tad surprisingly, Bet365 made Oxford City odds-on 5/6 favourite, with Chelmsford at a very generous 13/5 and the draw at 23/10.
The Clarets were unsurprisingly in an all Claret strip, apart from two thin white lines across the chest of the shirt, and they were being supported by a good turn-out from Essex, with at least 100 fans congregated behind the goal they were attacking, and another 20-30 dotted around in the main stand.
Oxford City had the first attack, with Zac McEachran making a good run past three attempted tacklers before turning and laying the ball back to Ashby, but the shot went at least 10 feet over.
Chelmsford though started strongly and had the better of the opening stages. An in-swinging free-kick from Ben Brookes needed to turned off for a corner by Ashby, and from the set-piece, keeper Kanuric could only punch out to the edge of the area where Tyreke Johnson was lurking. Although the shot was deflected it trickled past the despairing keeper but fortunately for the home side also narrowly past the post.
Michael Folivi then clearly pushed Oxford City defender Burley off the pitch but with the referee signalling no foul, the Clarets striker speed into the home area, where Carroll was on hand to make the block.
Chelmsford’s lively start got better when they opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Jackson did well to keep the ball in play and Carroll’s attempted challenge on Folivi was clumsy and it was a clear penalty. Krasniqi calmly stepped up to side-foot left footed into the bottom corner as keeper Kanuric dived the other way.
Having seen Oxford City four times previously this season, with them achieving just two draws and two losses, at this stage I was thinking perhaps they should pay me to stay away !
The home nearly immediately responded as Potter got to the by-line down the right, pulled the ball back to Ashby, but the ball across the face of the goal evaded Coyle at the back post. Chelmsford were soon back on the attack, and Alfa’s 25 yard stinger was straight at the keeper, who gathered at the second attempt.
Chelmsford’s high press was so far being very successful in preventing Oxford City from building out from the back, but they were putting in a lot of effort in closing down the ball player. Could they keep it up ?
The home side were slowly getting in the game, and after Williams-Bushell and Sanderson combined to set-up McEachran, the midfielder’s shot from the edge of the area was superbly tipped over the bar by keeper Beach. The corner was taken quickly, but Ashby’s shot from the angle of the penalty area was blocked by a Claret defender.
With 26 minutes played, a flowing passing move saw Ashby play Miccio behind the visitor’s backline, only for the clumsy challenge this time to made by Folivi for another obvious penalty. The outcome was virtually identical and Ashby sent Beach the wrong way for the equaliser.
Oxford City were now getting on top. Potter had too much pace for James down the left-wing but his attempted pass to find Sanderson was poor and easily cut-out for a corner, which was sent harmlessly into the side netting.
As the wind start to get heavier and the trees by the ring-road were swaying violently, a scrappy piece of play as both sides gave away possession saw the loose ball bounce clear into the Oxford City area for Jackson to latch onto, but his cross was seen off at the expense of a corner. The delivery from Brookes saw Dave Winfield rise the highest, but his header went a few feet over the bar.
With 36 minutes on the clock, Fleet won possession from Trotter near the half-way line and Potter then found McEachran with a short pass. The Hoops playmaker headed for goal and with the Clarets back-line retreating, made ground to the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful low shot into the bottom corner leaving Beach no chance. 2-1 to Oxford City
With the wind continuing to swirl, home keeper Kanuric completely mis-judged a free-kick launched into the area, running past the ball, but his blushes were spared as Carroll cleared the danger with a header.
As half-time approached, Claret midfielder McGregor was denied when his thunderbolt was bravely blocked by Carroll diving to get in the way, and when the rebound found Trotter, his attempt on goal was also blocked and Kanuric was able to gather.
However, it was Oxford City who ended the half strongly as McEachran released Coyle and his shot-cross from a narrow angle was saved by the outstretched leg from Beach. The ball looped up slowly but Sanderson’s left-footed volley was weak and straight at the keeper. With added time played, McEachran’s 20 yarder was too strong for Beach, going through his hands to clatter into the keeper’s chest and bounce away to safety. The resulting corner demonstrated the ever-increasing strength of the wind, the ball being caught in the gale and sailing well over the bar.
Despite a strong opening twenty minutes, the visitors trailed at the break.
Chelmsford had a great opportunity to level the scores less than a minute into the second period. Carroll’s loose pass was intercepted by Johnson who broke quickly. With a 4 on 2 advantage the midfielder opted to go it alone and although his effort was fierce, it was straight at Kanuric, and the on-loan Nottingham Forest keeper was able to push into the air and pluck the ball out of the air.
Two minutes later, Krasniqi threaded a pass through the home back-line but Kanuric was quickly off his line to bravely claim the ball. Unfortunately for him, Jackson continued to go for the ball despite it clearly being the keeper’s ball and ending up kicking the goalie. It was unnecessary, avoidable and it looked nasty. Play was held up nearly four minutes whilst Kanuric received treatment. Jackson was shown a yellow card, and was fortunate not to have received a harsher sanction.
As in the first half it was all Chelmsford in the opening 10 minutes. Brookes played in Johnson, and his low cross from the left beat both Carroll and Jackson at the near post only for Lewis Coyle to hook away before Alfa could tap in at the back post.
Again, the home side slowly got back into the half. A lovely run and pass by McEachran put Sanderson clear in the left-hand channel, but after getting into the Chelmsford area was crowded out by great defensive work by James covering from the left.
The Clarets response was for Brookes to send a 25 yard effort skidding towards the goal for Kanuric to get behind it and save low down. Brookes then delivered another in-swinging free-kick, which was met by Jackson’s neat flick. It looked to creeping into the far corner but Kanuric was able to dive and finger tip away past the post for a corner.
Chelmsford continued to press, and another dangerous cross from Johnson went just beyond the advancing attackers. The Hoops’ Coyle and Clarets’ Jackson were lucky to get away with bad fouls, but when Carroll scythed down Alfa the referee’s patience had run out and the yellow card was brandished.
A good run by McEachran took him close to the visitors’ area and his lay-off found Fleet, whose effort was blocked. The ball reached Sanderson who was able to turn and shoot from 10 yards but his attempt went inches wide.
The game turned decisively in the 70th minute. A dangerous move for the Clarets initiated by McGregor ended when Folivi lost possession just outside the Oxford City area. Potter was able to prod the ball to Ashby, who made ground and then produced a defence splitting ball for Sanderson to run onto and finish emphatically past Beach, to make it 3-1 from a clinical counter-attack.
The Clarets quickly won a corner, but Trotter was unable to get over the ball, and his header drifted high and wide. The visitors then responded by taking off their two forwards, but these changes had little impact.
Indeed, it was the home side that looked the more likely to score the next goal. Burley's ball to the near post was met by Sanderson, but his flick drifted just wide of the far post.
Johnson continued to look lively on the left for Chelmsford, and his pull-back to Trotter ended with a shot going a few feet over, then Trotter won a midfield skirmish and played a good through ball, but substitute Jones had timed his run badly and was caught off-side.
Despite the visitors have most of the ball in the final 15 minutes they made little impression on the Oxford City rearguard. Johnson smacked a clearance from a corner out of the ground, and Lodovica turned menacingly but couldn’t get his shot away and Kanuric claimed the ball.
In-between for Oxford City, Williams-Bushell proved to be too strong for Winfield but could only finish weakly at the keeper when in a glorious position, Ashby’s attempt to find the unmarked Lolos was intercepted, and with the 5 minutes of added time just about up, substitute Wilson and Burley combined to leave the St Kitts and Nevis international one-on-one with keeper Beach, but Burley unselfishly played the square ball for Potter to have a tap-in. Incredibly, Potter took a heavy touch, and then could only shoot against the legs of Brookes when it looked easier to score.
At the final whistle, Oxford City took three valuable and well-deserved points to go three points clear of Chelmsford, albeit from one more game played. Even the elderly, one-eyed Chelmsford supporter sitting in front of me for most of the match had to admit that “their number 10 ( McEachran ) ran the show”.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZgOsyRjB4k
Oxford City : Kanuric – Burley, Carroll, Miccio – Williams-Bushell ( Wilson ), Fleet, Ashby, McEachran ( Davies ), Coyle – Potter, Sanderson ( Lolos )
Chelmsford City : Beach – James, Winfield, Brookes – Alfa, McGregor, Trotter, Krasniqi, Johnson ( Lodovica ) – Folivi ( Blackwell ), Jackson ( Jones )
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