Match Report: Chelmsford City 1 Yeovil Town 0

A second half goal from Charlie Ruff saw Yeovil Town fall to a defeat against a Chelmsford City side who climbed to second in the National League South table on Saturday.

The Essex outfit pulled ahead of Worthing who lost for the second time in as many matches going down 1-0 to an in-form Braintree Town. They’re still 12 points behind the table-topping Glovers, however.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the away end at the Melbourne Stadium.

First half

After some even opening exchanges, a superb ball from Matt Worthington after five minutes found Jordan Stevens on the right, his  ball found its way to Dylan Morgan whose shot was fumbled by the Chelmsford keeper, but Frank Nouble could not pick up the rebound.

But seven minutes later Yeovil were indebted to keeper Joe Day. Jay Foulston was caught napping by Jermaine Francis who unleashed a low shot which the keeper got down well to turn wide for a corner. From the resulting flag kick, George Alexander headed just over the bar.

On 25 minutes, Matt Worthington let fly from 20 yards out but Gray in the Chelmsford goal was equal to it to turn it over the bar.

But chances were few and far between with Yeovil sticking to their principles of trying to play through their opponents, and Chelmsford only really threatening from set pieces.

A case in point being Winfeld’s header with half-time approaching, and then soon after Francis had a glorious opportunity after a quick break but he lashed his shot just past the far post on 44 minutes.

The better chances undoubtedly fell to the home side but goalless at the break.

Half time: Chelmsford City 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Aside from a booking for Morgan Williams and a couple of scrambles in the Yeovil goalmouth, the first real event of the first half saw Alex Fisher replace Dylan Morgan on 56 minutes. 

The change saw Fisher through the middle to challenge the aerial power of Winfield and Barbrook at the back and heralded an upturn in tempo from the visitors who went more direct.

A minute later, a nice move saw Nouble’s ball in headed just over the bar by Pearson. The flag was up (as it was an awful lot against us), but it was a nice move. 

Fisher was having an effect as an aerial threat to knock the ball up to. On 70 minutes, a great ball in from Nouble down the right broke to Will Dawes, on as a substitute for Stevens, and his effort was superbly clear by Finley Barbrook on the line.

But, with Yeovil having their best spell in the game, Chelmsford took the lead. A defensive mix up saw the ball break to Clarets’ top scorer Charlie RUFF and he fired home from inside a packed penalty area with 73 minutes gone.

Six minutes later, Yeovil thought they had levelled when Pearson’s ball in from the right was flicked on by the head of Dawes and Fisher got a final touch. But the linesman’s flag intervened – again.

Worthington dragged a shot wide soon after before on 82 minutes before Charlie Cooper was brought on to replace Michael Smith.

Yeovil pushed for an equaliser and in the final minute of normal time a ball in to the box from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was met by the head of Pearson at the far post, but there was no-one in the middle to convert it.

Two minutes in to stoppage time Day pulled off another outstanding save to deny Chelmsford substitute Ody Alfa.

A bad day at the office and a defeat but still 12 points clear at the top of the league. Could be worse, eh?

Full time: Chelmsford City 1 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: Melbourne Stadium 
Date: Saturday 24th February – 3pm

Competition: National League South

Pitch: Churned up in the goal mouths
Conditions: Chilly and intermittent showers

Attendance: 1,502

Scorers: Charlie Ruff 73 (0-1)

Bookings: 

Chelmsford City: Jermaine Francis 24, Finley Barbrook 35
Yeovil Town: Dylan Morgan 29, Morgan Williams 50, Matt Worthington 61, Jordan Stevens 64

Referee: Tom Ellsmore

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Alex Fisher (for Dylan Morgan, 56), Will Dawes (for Jordan Stevens, 67), Charlie Cooper (for Michael Smith, 83), Alex Whittle (not used), Josh Owers (not used).

Chelmsford City: Gray, Brookes, Winfield, Francis, Alexander, Barbrook, Ruff, Barnum-Bonn, Watts, Castiglone, Ochieng. Substitutes: Wordsworth (for Ruff, 90+3), Carruthers (for Francis, 86), Alfa (for Castiglione, 71), Hockey (not used), James (not used).