So Boxing Day was again upon us and my annual pilgrimage to the surroundings of Melbourne Stadium, Chelmsford, as Chelmsford City hosted Bishop’s Stortford in a Vanarama National League South encounter.
It was a lovely crisp bright sunny December afternoon in Essex too so this would hopefully encourage some decent football from both sides. However the hosts were on a seven game winless streak in the league, drawing six of those, to fall out of the play off spots.
The visitors were in a much much worse situation however as they occupied the bottom spot in the division having only won four league games all season, so neither side were in much form winning wise at least, although two of those wins had come since the start of November, including a 3-1 win in their last away trip.
Despite this the hosts were probably favourites to take the three points in this one and with their current manager, Rod Stringer, being the ex-Stortford boss this also added a nice little twist to the match up no doubt.
Stortford knew they could make things difficult for their local rivals if they could play a good game and add to that winless run the hosts have been experiencing the league but to be honest it never looked likely to happen as the afternoon went on.
City knew an early goal would help settle any nerves and sure enough in the 12th minute won themselves a penalty kick after Kane Haysman burst into the box before being pushed to the ground from behind by Michael Richens. And although Shaun Jeffers saw his spot kick saved by Voss, Max Cornhill swept home the rebound to net a goal on what was his 100th appearance for the club and give City the vital breakthrough.
Stortford tried their best to respond but saw Paul Rogers downward header well saved by Ross Fitzsimons but this was the visitors only attack of any note in the first half hour as City dominated the ball and the play.
However despite this the hosts couldn’t find that second goal to go with their dominance, that was until ten minutes before half time when Elliott Buchanan glanced home a Robbie Willmott free kick from the left to net his first goal in a City shirt and make sure the hosts took a firm grip on this contest.
City continued to create the openings but failed to find another before the break and were almost made to pay when Stortford’s Aaron Greene sent a dipping effort just over the bar, but this was another rare attack from the visitors and saw the hosts go into the half two goals up and cruising this one thus far.
Half Time Chelmsford City 2 Bishops Stortford 0
City knew a third goal would kill off any Stortford thought’s of a comeback and they could and probably should of added to their tally in the early exchanges of the second period. The best chances came to Willmott, whose cross was headed off the line by Rogers, and Jeffers, who saw a downward header saved and then a shot strike the frame of the goal.
Stortford’s only real threatening moment came early in the half when Evans Kouassi’s pacey run ended with a feeble attempt at goal but it was the hosts who looked likely to add to their tally and sure enough midway through the second period a stunning strike from Willmott from almost thirty yards out left keeper Voss clutching thin air as the ball flew into the bottom corner and sealed the points for City once and for all.
Stortford knew the game was up but they were in danger of folding completely and with fifteen minutes remaining saw a rampant City make it four when full back Matt Young saw his first shot blocked before the defender picked up the loose ball and picked his spot expertly to find the bottom corner for his first ever City goal to boot.
Jeffers was trying his hardest to find a goal and he came oh so close again inside the last ten minutes when he saw his point blank stretching effort hit the bar, the second time he had struck the woodwork in the game, before his good work almost found Cornhill whose effort flew wide.
However it mattered not as City ran out convincing winners and put an end to that winless run in the league to go just outside the playoffs in sixth spot, whilst for Stortford it looks like a long season as they remain bottom, seven points from safety and after today’s performance, which was poor at best, you can see why. Work to do as they say.
Full Time Chelmsford City 4 Bishops Stortford 0
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