Chelmsford City versus Boreham Wood – Match Preview

By John Mead

This Saturday Wood visit the Essex Cup Giant Killers for another six pointer.    City have barely had a chance to impress in the League recently having managed just three matches in the last two months thanks to their Cup antics.

Those games were a recent 3 – 2 defeat at leaders Salisbury City after being two up after thirty-three minutes. The Clarets put their Cup form aside to lose 3 – 0 at Hayes & Yeading United before that, a game which their Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather labelled their worst of the Season.    In mid- November they won 1 – 2 at Basingstoke Town.    City are four points behind Wood but have two games in hand and a result this Saturday would give them every belief they can snatch out coveted fourth spot from under our noses.

Yet it is City’s performances in both major F.A. Competitions this Season that has got the football world talking. In the F.A. Challenge Cup back at the end of October heads were turning after their superb battle  over two legs ended in the sumptious surrounds of Rookery Hill around 11pm when after a 5 – 3 penalty shoot out victory against East Thurrock United, City claimed their right to face local rivals Colchester United at home in the First Round Proper.

Bizarrely it was side swiped by the TV Companies.    They should have known better with Chelmsford City convincing 3 – 1 winners in front of 3,016 sardines at The Melbourne Stadium.    However Crawley Town proved a hurdle too far in Round Two, the League One side running out 3 – 0 winners.

Their run in the F.A. CarlsbergTrophy is just as impressive as they travel to The Shay in January to face FC Halifax Town in the last sixteen.    It was by no means an easy passage for Pennyfather’s charges.    They needed two games to overcome Dover Athletic, then Hampton & Richmond Borough, before turning in the sit up and take notice perfomance of the last Round whopping Hereford United 0 – 3 away!

We have already entertained The Clarets at home, which threw up a once rare 0 – 0 draw.    It possibly started a trend as we have now three to our name this Season.    It is highly unlikely that will happen again this Saturday however as both teams have one thing in common, they play to win, as their respective League standings show.

Chelmsford City versus Boreham Wood, Saturday 29 December 2012. 3.00pm. Melbourne Stadium, Salerno Way, Chelmsford. CM1 2EH.

Come On The Wood!