Chelmsford City cursed their luck after a commanding performance in the first leg of their Blue Square South play-off semi final at Bath City was settled in the hosts’ favour following two sucker-punch goals by Kaid Mohamed and substitute Hector Mack
The Clarets controlled the entire match but had to settle for defeat ahead of Saturday’s return at Melbourne, both sides going down to ten-men when Chelmsford’s Ricky Modeste and Bath player Mark Badman clashed late in the game. Pennyfather claimed: “I can’t believe we’ve battered them but ended-up losing. They told us we were the better side and they have to sit on that all week before coming to play us. We still have a determined dressing room and an opportunity to overcome what is a funny scoreline.”
Marked changes had been made to the side, with the central defence consisting of Ben Martin and Steve Ward as Matthew Lock moved into midfield and Simon Glover stood aside. Anthony Cook made a reverse move into right-back in place of Ben Nunn while Modeste came in for winger Anthony Finn. Dave Rainford played in the heart of midfield ahead of John Martin as Ricky Holmes resumed up-front instead of Rob Edmans.
Barring Chelmsford’s anomalous result on the final day, both teams had been maintaining a tight defence and that formed the basis of a closely-fought first period. Although the pattern of the game could have been so different had Rainford’s 1st-minute effort gone closer, almost setting-up Warren McBean in the process. At the other end three minutes later, it was Lewis Hogg’s turn to threaten although his shot from the edge of the penalty area was too weak and off-target to trouble Clarets ‘keeper Ashley Harrison.
The 10th minute brought about a pair of Holmes attempts as he showed a little hesitancy with the first but later swivelled and shot straight at Bath goalkeeper Ryan Robinson. Mohamed’s (pictured) 16th minute drive narrowly evaded a Chelmsford goalpost. But the home stopper was called into action again on 25 minutes when a ball into the goalmouth found Ollie Berquez a few yards out and he shot too close to Robinson, who made a save.
Pennyfather’s team were enjoying the larger share of the possession and forcing a high volume of corners though they were unable to make any of them pay prior to half time. Berquez was in the thick of things again on 40 minutes, receiving a Holmes pass before turning to shoot without success. The other side of the interval it was McBean who could have put the Clarets in front, charging through on goal but shooting off-target.
If that wasn’t close enough, the visitors watched Ben Martin’s goalbound header from a corner kick inches away from crossing the line until Adam Connolly made a crucial intervention as Chelmsford looked like converting their supremacy into something more tangible. But the game took a dramatic turn in the opposite direction in the 58th minute when, against the run of play, Mohamed netted from the penalty spot after a foul.
The away supporters in the 1,425 crowd were up in arms with around a quarter of an hour remaining as they appealed for two penalties of their own in separate handball claims only to have them waved away and this took the wind out of the Clarets’ sails. The contest briefly turning aggressive on 79 minutes as an altercation between Badman and Modeste saw the City player retaliate and both were dismissed by the referee.
“Their player came in with a late challenge and Ricky never motioned his head towards him afterwards,” Pennyfather recalled. “They’re both yellow cards but they’ve been sent-off and had their seasons ruined. Bath’s penalty was contentious but if you’re giving penalties for that then you have to be giving ours at the other end, which was a blatant handball.”
Bath then couldn’t believe their luck 4 minutes from time as they moved two in front. A ball across the face was met by substitute Mackie and he smacked into the corner, leaving Harrison with no chance.
That set-up the weekend’s fascinating second leg as the sides compete for a place in the final against Dover Athletic or Woking.
