Chelmsford match on Monday 25th October 2021

[Park Life]

Well on top and Chelmsford losing discipline so shame HT has gave them a break.
Hopefully with them playing Saturday and chasing the ball around we will take advantage even if it's late on.

[BAWArmy]

We're all over them by the sounds of it, just missing the killer ball.

Got 0-0 or a 1-0 Chelmsford all over it hasn't it...

[BAWArmy]

2 points dropped. Playing against 10 for 45 minutes we should be winning. Must've had about 20 shots (very few on target) and 20 corners by the sounds of commentary.. Sudbury first half all over again. Can't seem to stay onside either

[The Duke]

Bit of thinking for Kingy to do as we seem NOT to be able to breakdown packed defences as in the last 3 games we have dominated possession but have scraped a 1-0 , lost 3-1 and a 0 0 draw , I thought tonights starting 11 was our strongest but refresh time maybe ???

Hurry back Jake Robinson !!!!!

[Top Cat]

Says a lot when we feel deflated at getting a point at Chelmsford ? It was always going to be difficult against a ten man defence , but that said , the last three games we have been looking at bit goal shy ? Hopefully back to scoring ways on Saturday.

[BAWArmy]

My main worry is this spell we're going through of creating loads of half chances and not being clinical in the final ball continues and turns into a 4 or 5 game streak and we lose our lead at the top.

[ozymandias]

What tosh, I'd have taken a 0-0. Still unbeaten. Can't expect to win every game, sometimes harder to play against 10. Well done the lads. On to Saturday and a win.

[Jonty]

I agree with Ozy, I would have taken the draw beforehand. My only concern was playing three relatively slow players together in the middle of the park from the off. I would still like to see Hyde return and leave one or two of our sideways passing players on the bench. I also hope we see Jake Robinson back urgently.

[BRASSNECK]

Only 4 points dropped only 4 goals conceded in 9 games and 6 points clear. Happy days.

[oranj]

Chelmsford defended magnificently and probably deserved a point. Their keeper was injured for most of the game but we barely forced him into a save, which was disappointing. We had so many corners in the second half, but I felt that a number of Jebb’s deliveries were pretty poor, so we were never able to take advantage.

As others have said, we would have taken a point here when the fixtures came out.

Finally, what a truly terrible place to watch football. I do feel sorry for Chelmsford fans who have to put up with this awful home ground. I can’t think of any grounds worse that this one.

[Sleightly Deceptive]

Well I won’t be rushing back up there! Nightmare journey there AND back! What an absolutely gawd-awful place to watch football. Bring back Writtle Street!

That was just ‘one of those nights’ really wasn’t it?! We weren’t going to score if we played till breakfast. Ade just want cutting it tonight. Played okay - just lacked that killer edge he’s known for.

Chelmo defended like it was the Alamo. Never seen such a one-sided 0-0 and suck amazing defending. They deserved their applause at the end.

Best referee I’ve seen for a long long time. Card in the first minute and taking no crap from their bench with a yellow card to two of them!

Still unbeaten and still will be by Sunday!

[DA Mikey]

Agree that a point away to Chelmo is never a disaster, however this was a game for the taking after the #3 stupidly fouled AA with an hour left to play. We didn’t really trouble their hapless keeper at all despite the constant pressure and dozen corners.
Annoyingly, Isaac was one of their best players, alongside the youthful #13. They also had a right old donkey at the back who was reminiscent of Nathan Collier but with no skill whatsoever.

My vote went to Leonard who hasn’t had a bad game for us yet. Chelmsford are not a good side this season, let’s see whether Dorking are a better outfit (hopefully not). Last time we went there it was late drama for the win.

[Park Life]

We threw everything at them second half and just needed a little bit of luck when a few deflections went agonisingly past the post and a few crosses flew across their goalmouth which we just couldn't get to.
Keeper made a very good save from Jebb's free kick and it was just wave after wave of attacks but i think sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition and Chelmsford threw their bodies on the line and defended very well.
It's very difficult to break teams down when they pack their defence especially when they are well organised and you have to give credit to Chelmsford for doing that tonight.
So whilst it would have been great to win we have maintained our unbeaten league run and got another point away from home at a ground where it is never easy to win.
The lads gave everything tonight but sometimes it's just not gonna be your night, tonight was definitely one of those.
Felt we had a great shout for a penalty in the second half but after speaking to people who were a lot closer than me they felt it probably wasn't so have to say the referee had a decent game getting all the major decisions right.

[dartLion]

This is a game that will be remembered for the goals that were never scored, "we comprehensively stuffed them 0-0". Wave after wave of Darts attacks ended with either off side decisions, blocks or blasts over the top. I guess the % possession stats could easily have been 85-15. Got to give credit to the Chelmo defence who refused to buckle. A point away from home, clean sheet and still unbeaten too are all positives.
Agree with Sleightly, a road crash of a ground, as a halfway liner you were so distant from the action with the eight lane running track all round. And add the M25 being closed between the A12 and A127 for the run home, necessitating an eight mile diversion, and the frustration of the evening was complete.

[Sennocke]

I agree about their poor ground , but must say their catering was really good (if a tad pricy) , burgers were terrific and for once a ground was prepared for the onslaught of demand ! ( can you tell i was a career caterer?) So often the catering facilities are painfully slow and unprepared for the dartford faithful.
Shame about the result ,but we played well and just couldnt find that finish ..On to Saturday ..COYD ...

[Tony H]

That Crossing must be a nightmare for evening games north of the river. A point is a point in this marathon of a race. Let’s take it and re-group for a much tougher game this Saturday. All I will say is that we might very well get one chance to score in certain games, and it has to be taken!!

[BrianL]

Ought to have won against 10 men for an hour and a hobbling keeper unable to kick, but as often happens, those setbacks caused Chelmsford to throw themselves into defending for their lives, and they deserved our grudging respect at the end.
We moved the ball around well and had most of the play, but didn't really create a definite chance to test the keeper. Jack does score some amazing goals, but with so many corners and free kicks, perhaps we could allow someone else occasionally to take some to avoid predictability. Just wasn't to be our night, but should never be disappointed with an away point and we are still 6 points clear. Onwards and upwards.

[M1 South]

Where to start?
Agree about their Catering van, it’s the best in the league by far!!
Can’t believe their fans were lambasting the Ref at the end, that was a stonewall red card, their players didn’t really argue did they?
Don’t think the Ref was going to give a pen at the end either way, too much pressure!!
Fair play to them for some resolute defending with 10 men, but surely we could/should have done better with our 20+ corners we had?
I’ll be happy with last nights result if we do them 3 or 4 nil in the return at PP? 4 x points off each team is Champions material !!!

[Tony H]

Where to start?
Agree about their Catering van, it’s the best in the league by far!!
Can’t believe their fans were lambasting the Ref at the end, that was a stonewall red card, their players didn’t really argue did they?
Don’t think the Ref was going to give a pen at the end either way, too much pressure!!
Fair play to them for some resolute defending with 10 men, but surely we could/should have done better with our 20+ corners we had?
I’ll be happy with last nights result if we do them 3 or 4 nil in the return at PP? 4 x points off each team is Champions material !!!

The best refs will give penalties, correctly, despite “pressure”. After all, when don’t they referee games under pressure? Interested to hear Sleightly’s view of that decision!?

[Tony H]

Teams will, we know, “park the bus” against us and we have to find a way of breaking defences down like we did against Hungerford. You cannot criticise strikers for not scoring, or midfield players for not delivering the inch- perfect pass or cross. Sometimes it that one piece of fairy dust that gets a goal. Sadly you can’t buy that! A good point on the road and we play a team at home that will play football (with some shenanigans thrown in no doubt! Watch out for some rough stuff on Ade and whoever partners him up front!!) Should be a belter.