Essex County Womens League

Division 2

Assandun Vikings 5 Chelmsford City Reserves 5

In an incredible game, honours were even after both teams shared ten goals on Sunday afternoon. City were without three regulars and the home side opened the scoring, racing into a two goal lead, which the home side held at the break.

City came back strongly in the second half and brought the scoreline back to 2-2 through Angela Holden and a superb solo goal from Elspeth Arkell.

City went behind again only to draw level following a goalmouth scramble with an unfortunate Assandun defender deflecting a Holden shot into the net while at the other end, Dawn Barnard was on hand to block a goal bound effort on the line.

Assandun netted twice to take a 5-3 lead but City stuck firmly to the task and pulled a goal back following a superb Catherine Phillips cross from the right which Nikki Medici headed downwards under the keeper at the far post.

With only minutes remaining, Arkell put a deep corner into the home box where an Assandun player diverted the ball into the net under pressure from City’s forwards to dramatically level the scores again. In the final seconds, the home side had a good effort blocked by both Elizabeth Threadgold and Jo Millar to preserve a well earned point. 

Chelmsford City Reserves 3 Saffron Walden Town B 1

City kicked into the strong wind for the first half and made an explosive start by taking the lead with only 16 seconds on the clock. A neat interchange of passes between Emma Ridings and Ashleigh Harding, ripped open the shell shocked Town side, Harding drilling a low shot into the bottom left hand corner.

The opening 20 minutes, saw City keeping the ball on the floor and neatly working their way forward but the fanal ball was left wanting on a number of occasions. Saffron Walden came back into the match, using the strong wind at their backs to good advantage, forcing City to defend for periods. A failure to clear their lines properly caused a number of scares and eventually the visitors capitalised on one such time to level the scores deep into time added on before the half time whistle. A poor clearance from the keeper was immediately put back into City’s box, the resultant low cross not cleared and after a scramble, the Town striker fired a close range shot into the net.

The second half saw City keep their shape well, maintaining possession for long periods allowing them to dominate the game. Harding netted her second goal on 55 minutes with a well taken goal and a string of efforts from outside the area went wide of the post. On 69 minutes, a clever ball forward to Ridings saw her time her run to perfection but her final shot was superbly pushed wide by the diving keepers outstretched left hand. From the resulting corner, Ridings found herself with time and space in the box to control and fire an unstoppable shot to extend City’s lead.

Walden worked tirelessly but found City resolute and determined to gain the three points with an all round solid second half performance.

Chelmsford City: Pearson, Thomas, Cornell, Brett, Wilson, Merry(Millar), Barnard, Sharpe(Garrett), Lodge, Ridings and Harding.

Chelmsford City Ladies 1^st Team were without a game due to their scheduled opponents being in League Cup action and face a stern test this coming Sunday with a trip to second placed Brentwood Town kick off 2pm at the Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road kick off 2pm. The Reserves are at home to Runwell Hospital in a league match, kick off 2pm at Marconi Leisure, West Hanningfield Road.

League Cup 2^nd Round

Cornard 3 Chelmsford City Reserves 5

City belied their indifferent league form to beat a team from a Division higher and book a quarter final place on Sunday. The omens didn’t look good as Cornard opened the scoring within the first ten minutes but City hit to lead 2-1 at the break through Emma Sharpe and Ashleigh Harding’s sweetly struck free kick.

Cornard had levelled immediately after the break but City raised their game, playing excellent slick passing football. Elspeth Arkell was dominant in the centre of midfield with strong, solid tackles and her distribution began to rip the home side open. Kim Lodge capped a great performance by scoring while Harding and Sharpe netted another goal  apiece as City raced into a 5-2 lead but the scoreline could have been more. Jo Millar had a fierce shot after a great run down the left only for the home keeper to pull off a wonderful save while Arkell had a jinxing run through the Cornard defence but her shot was straight at the keeper.

The home side pushed forward in numbers and reduced the arrears with a desperate effort in the final minutes but City had done enough to pull off a shock, but well deserved victory.

Chelmsford City: Pearson, Wilson, Cornell, Barnard, Threadgold, Merry, Arkell, Brett, Lodge, Harding,  Sharpe, Millar and Medici.

Division 2

Saffron Walden Town  0 Chelmsford City Reserves 5

Chelmsford City recorded an impressive 5-0 win over their Essex counterparts at the weekend, with a brace from Ashleigh Harding and a goal apiece from Jo Millar, Lucy Garrett and Elspeth Arkell.

City started brightly and they were unlucky not to be ahead early on, as both Harding and Laura Kendle had headed efforts cleared off of the Walden goal line. However, City did manage to break the deadlock soon after, when Garrett delivered an inch-perfect ball in for Harding, who nudged it past the oncoming keeper and slotted into an empty net to make the score 1-0. Harding had an opportunity to double City’s lead just minutes later as she stepped up to take a penalty, but her effort was saved by the home keeper and rebounded off the crossbar to safety.  Harding did grab her second goal before the break, with a well-taken shot giving the Walden keeper no chance and giving Chelmsford a comfortable 2-0 victory at half time.

The home team came out into the second half stronger, but City responded well, Elspeth Arkell and Rachel Brett at the heart of the midfield staying strong, providing the driving force for City.

It took another twenty minutes for the visitors to break their opposition down again, but when they did it was worth the wait, with an excellent finish from Garrett on the right wing making a City victory an almost certainty.  The Clarets brought on fresh legs in Nicola Medici and Emma Sharpe, who both worked tirelessly in creating chances in attack. Jo Millar scored a deserved goal with fifteen minutes to go, as her shot from just inside the area slipped through the hands of the outstretched goalkeeper and five minutes later City extended their lead still further with the best goal of the game. From the keepers drop kick, Arkell brought the ball down before charging past four Walden defenders and thumping the ball past the helpless keeper to net her first goal for the club in sensational style.

Chelmsford City: Clare Pearson, Lisa Cornell, Jo Millar, Laura Kendle, Rhiannon Streitsberger, Lucy Garrett, Natalie Merry, Rachel Brett, Elspeth Arkell, Ashleigh Harding, Danielle Evans, Nicola Medici, Emma Sharpe and Dawn Barnard.

Beacon Hill 2 Chelmsford City Reserves 2

City, with a number of key players unavailable, gained their first point of the season with a gutsy performance on Sunday. The game was evenly matched with both sides playing good passing football with chances created at both ends. The home side took the lead when a well struck free kick was saved by City’s keeper with the home side reacting quickest to tuck the rebound into the net. City continued to play good football and equalised after stalwart Dawn Barnard played a superb penetrating pass forward to Danielle Evans who, in turn, supplied Nicola Medici with an inch perfect pass who slotted the ball home.  

Beacon Hill restored their lead before the break through open play which was harsh on City who had battled well and had played some creative football.

City started the second half the more determined which was rewarded with an equaliser through Jo Millar who picked up the ball on the left wing and unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which looped over the despairing keeper into the far corner.

City continued to enjoy the better of the play but were unable to convert the chances they created while the home side looked to catch City out on the counter-attack. Elspeth Arkell was instrumental in the centre of midfield for City on her debut, her distribution to either flank a major factor.

Chelmsford City: Pearson, Wilson, Cornell, Brett, Arkell, Merry, Barnard, Sharpe(Bowler), Millar, Medici(Phillips) and Evans.

This Sunday, City Reserves are at home to C&K Basildon at Marconi Leisure, West Hanningfield Road kick off 2pm.

Southend United 6 Chelmsford City Reserves 0

City took on a strong Southend side who are sitting top of the table and put in a good performance but were undone by good finishing and a couple of defensive errors. Ashleigh Harding worked tirelessly up front but was unable to grab the goal she deserved.

League Cup 1^st Round

C & K Basildon Reserves 3 Chelmsford City Reserves 7

City started brightly, attacking the home team’s goal but could not convert their chances. This was typified when, after ten minutes, Catherine Phillips passed to Ashleigh Harding whose shot skimmed over Basildon’s goal. There followed some good football by City, but they just could not find the back of the net and the deadlock was finally broken on thirty minutes when City midfielder Natalie Merry spotted the home team’s ‘keeper off her line to coolly lobbed her.

Basildon tried to get back into the game but could not find a way past City’s defence who were now playing with confidence. City were dominating, launching a series of attacks on Basildon’s defence and were rewarded ten minutes later when City striker Ashleigh Harding scored, having worked hard to get past several defenders., A few minutes later, Harding netted her second to ensure her side enjoyed a three goal lead at the break.

Both sides started well after the break, with City’s keeper doing well, making a save at the feet of a home team’s striker. After five minutes, a Basildon striker struck a shot into the top left hand corner of City’s goal to take the score to 1-3 as the game ebbed and flowed both ways, but it was Chelmsford who began to regain the upper hand. Harding completed her hat-trick twenty minutes into the half, taking the score to 1-4 and Chelmsford were unlucky to extend their lead further, shortly after when Danielle Evans fierce shot rebounded off the goal post.

City were now playing with real confidence and it was Harding who scored their 5^th, shortly after Rachel Brett made it 1-6 with a well placed shot. Against the run of play Basildon scored a goal courtesy of a well-taken free kick to reduce the arrears but it was the visitors who topped off an admirable performance with another goal by Kimberly Lodge that took the score to 2-7. The home team were able to grab another goal before the final whistle, but it was Chelmsford City Reserves who ran out deserved winners and ensured their name goes into the hat.

Chelmsford City played attractive, flowing football, and it was the performance of defender Evelynne Wilson that caught the eye, earning her the accolade of player of the match.

Chelmsford City Reserves:  Clare Pearson, Emma Bowler, Dawn Barnard, Laura Kendle, Evelynne Wilson, Kimberly Lodge, Emma Sharpe, Rachel Brett, Natalie Merry, Catherine Phillips, Ashleigh Harding, Danielle Evans, Nicola Medici and Emily Smith

Friendly

Chelmsford City Reserves 1 Rayleigh Raiders 3

Chelmsford City were narrowly beaten by higher league opposition at the weekend, in an end-to-end affair against a strong Rayleigh Raiders team, which resulted in the visiting team going home 3-1 victors. Both sides began brightly, but it was the Raiders who exerted the most early pressure, their impressive number seven giving Chelmsford an early warning sign with a strong header which sailed inches over the City crossbar. Despite some strong saves from Clare Pearson in the City goal, combined with a solid back four, it was Rayleigh who took the lead mid-way through the half with a simple goal, after two strikers were left completely unmarked in the box and the ball was tapped in from close range.

  However, The Clarets responded well and it was not long before they were back on level terms. Having won themselves a corner on the right hand side, Ashleigh Harding delivered an inch-perfect ball into centre-half Laura Kendle, who rose above her marker to head in the equaliser.

  The second half saw Rayleigh up the pace, but the City defence were equal to the task, with Jo Millar and Dawn Barnard in particular using their experience to command the back line. However, worked tirelessly but it was the final 10 minutes which saw their higher league opponents net two late goals complete the scoring and take away a 3-1 victory.

Chelmsford City: Clare Pearson, Dawn Barnard, Liz Threadgold, Rhiannon Streitberger, Laura Kendle, Evelynne Wilson, Kim Lodge, Emma Sharpe, Jo Millar, Ashleigh Harding, Angela Holden, Emily Smith, Amanda Russell, Catherine Phillips and Emma Bowler

This Sunday, City Reserves will be at home to Rayleigh Raiders again in another friendly at Marconi Leisure, West Hanningfield Road kick off 2pm.

Friendly
Cornard 0 Chelmsford City Reserves 1

City were boosted by the appearance of a few First Team players, plus there was a senior debut for U16 midfielder Tara Britton. City got off to a flying start and the first ten minutes saw the Cornard defence run into the ground by the hardworking central midfield pair of Laura Brown and Angela, with good support on the flanks from Kim Lodge and Britton. Despite the pressure from Chelmsford on the attack, the Cornard keeper was equal to the task and she made a number of crucial saves to keep the visitors out, and the score remained at 0-0 before the half time break.

Cornard began to put more pressure on the City back line in the second half, and Clare Pearson had to be alert between the sticks as she pulled off a number of fine saves. However, Chelmsford continued to plug away and on 70 minutes they got their reward as an excellent passing move culminated in a fine goal from Ashleigh Harding, to give the away side a deserved lead. Despite going behind, Cornard did not let their heads drop and they bounced back almost immediately; Dawn Barnard saving the day for City with a last ditch goal line clearance to keep the score at 1-0. Chelmsford will be encouraged by this positive display and hope to take this into next Sunday’s friendly game against Rayleigh Raiders.

Chelmsford City: Clare Pearson, Hannah Watson, Dawn Barnard, Anna Thomas, Lisa Cornell, Kim Lodge, Tara Britton, Laura Brown, Angela, Ashleigh Harding, Nicola Medici, Laura Kendle, Lucy Terrell and Emma.