Former Southend United youth team boss Craig Edwards named an inexperienced side full of trialists for the match against the Villagers, who finished mid-table in Ridgeons One last season, and had drawn 2-2 against Heybridge Swifts the night before. Indeed, only ex-Shrimpers youth talent Richard Halle, left-sided utility man Helder Valdez and right-winger Steve Butterworth were named from the senior squad.
By the time that I had negotiated the hour-long walk from Sudbury to Long Melford and missed the first twelve minutes, the Clarets had gone 2-0 ahead. The first was netted by Halle, who met a cross to divert the ball into the roof of the net, before ex-Gillingham reserves player Jones Anwah grabbed the second just three minutes later.
This was a nervous encounter, completely controlled by the visitors, with George Sealey, the son of former Aston Villa, Manchester United and West Ham United goalkeeper Les, between the sticks for Chelmsford completely redundant. For a trialist in the back five, it was not the place to be.
At least his replacement, SKY Sports’ Dream Team shotstopper Alex Lawler, did have the chance to effect one save, but by this time the scoreline had trebled to an unlikely 6-0. The third and final goal of the first half arrived on the stroke of half-time, when Anwah was brought down on the edge of the penalty area, and Tobi Ositola, formerly of Barnet and Harlow Town, stroked home the spot-kick. Seconds earlier he had seen a rebound ruled out for offside.
The second period was even more one-sided as Ositola doubled his tally from an Anwah centre on the hour mark. The favour was returned less than five minutes later, with Ositola’s tricky run completed as Anwah bundled the ball in from close range. This was the time for ex-Shrimpers reserve team trialist Sam Kola-Okiolu, arguably the worst-ever player to pull on a Blues shirt, to make his departure from centre-half.
With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, the goal of the game arrived, with the Portuguese-sounding Jordao smashing a bolt out of the blue low past the Long Melford goalkeeper from just over twenty yards out. He set up the last goal with a typically tricky run down the left flank and a cross that Michael Phillips calmly tapped home.
There was no sign of new captures such as Canvey Island’s Peter Smith (although Matt Joseph did start at right-back) and Jamie Moralee, as well as the likes of striker Gary Ansell, all of whom should start against the Seasiders on Saturday afternoon. However, City will be able to build on this result, and if the slick passing and running behind the defence is replicated at the weekend, then Blues’ back four could face a stern workout at the hands of the Ryman League Premier Division team.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com
**Please visit www.chelmsfordcityfc.com for all the Clarets’ build-up to the Shrimpers first pre-season friendly on Saturday**