Striker Rob Edmans’ sensational 25-second volleyed opener wasn’t enough for Chelmsford City on Saturday.
Replies from Gareth Williams and Ryan Hall before half time sent the Clarets spinning to a home defeat against Kent outfit Bromley for the second year in succession at Melbourne Stadium on Saturday.
City find themselves stuck in mid-table after a run of four games without a win, and head coach Glenn Pennyfather can’t wait for his team’s injury nightmare to be over, saying: “Winning against Bath and Woking did add extra pressure to the players as it raised expectations. They were great results but we knew consistency might be a problem and so that’s proved now. Our communication at the back could be better though we’ve had injuries there which would weaken any side, whether you’re Chelmsford City or Man United. Four key players are out and the back line is very young.”
Danny Hockton’s ankle injury kept him out of contention, which meant a first league start for Rob Edmans up-front, while Erkan Okay’s position at left-back was taken by the returning Danny Bunce.
Okay was one of three players released by the club in the days leading up to the game, including midfielder Ryan Carolan and striker Jason Hallett, who departed with thanks for their service. Elsewhere, Ricky Holmes came back into the side on the wing, with Jamie Hand sitting out.
Edmans’ full debut couldn’t have started better when the ball broke to him on the edge of the penalty area inside the 1st minute and his sweetly-struck volley nestled into the bottom corner. Dave Rainford nearly added to the tally on 6 minutes when his glancing header after a corner from the right flew wide, but it was Robbie Kember who was guilty of wasting a more prominent opportunity at the other end when he rounded goalkeeper Craig Holloway twice prior to rolling disappointingly into the side-netting.
In the 15th minute, however, the match was all-square again. A characteristic which would curse City for the rest of the match would be the time afforded to visiting attackers, so when Williams took control of a forward pass from a team-mate he had the simple task of advancing a few steps into the open space and slotting wide of the exposed Holloway low into the net. Chelmsford would never recover.
John Martin struck over the crossbar for Pennyfather’s men after Holmes’ 28th-minute left-wing delivery caused confusion in the box though Williams was involved again as Bromley turned the game around a minute into first-half injury time. Matthew Lock was adjudged to have impeded the Lilywhites’ attacker in the box, leaving Hall to step up and confidently and successfully tuck the ball to Holloway’s right.
Beyond the interval City quickly had an effort cleared off the goal line and Anthony Cook was involved twice just prior to the hour mark when one of his crosses resulted in Edmans heading just wide at the far post. Shortly afterwards he spotted goalkeeper Gareth Williams off his line but his cheeky attempt proved no trouble for the custodian who spotted the danger early enough to recover.
Bromley, meanwhile, raised the tempo in the 63rd minute and worked a move towards the unmarked Warren McBean fifteen yards from the centre of the goal. He smashed the underside of the crossbar with his effort then Hall proved wasteful with the rebound as he shanked well over. Within seconds they were then forced to defend as a controlled, ripping volley from Holmes forced Williams into a stupendous tip over the bar.
Neither side was able to fashion a meaningful opportunity after that, leaving Pennyfather frustrated as he summarised: “I was very disappointed that we shot ourselves in the foot again with individual mistakes that you can’t justify or legislate for. As much as you guide or tell the players those things will always happen. Bromley weren’t the best side we’ve faced so far and we knew there would be games which wouldn’t go our way but we will continue to go out to win every match.”
