Substitute Greg Cundle stepped off the bench to fire Fleet to another three points on a day their rivals dropped more points. It was a typically low-scoring affair at the Melbourne Stadium that Fleet fans have come to expect but not one of them will care about the goal return this afternoon as the goal they did get to cheer won the game.
For all their efforts on Tuesday night, the fitness levels of Dennis Kutrieb’s side required only two changes and in came St Albans matchwinner Toby Edser together with Haydn Hollis, while Joe Martin was back in the squad, on the bench, for the first time since his injury on New Year’s Day.
Things got off to a quick enough start with Cameron James’ shot in the first minute earning Chelmsford a corner and then Omari Sterling-James curling his own corner to the far post that needed Eddie Beach to make an unexpected save.
But Beach’s error on eight minutes was almost fatal for Chelmsford, Dominic Poleon intercepting a poor ball out. A defender got in his way of a direct shot so with Josh Wright and Toby Edser backing up, a second shot and then another from Poleon was again blocked by Chelmsford in last-ditch scenes reminscent of last season’s game here.
Sterling swung another dangerous corner in while a nice position opened up for Sido Jombati on the quarter-hour but he swung his effort well wide of the post. Five minutes later Ben Chapman did ever so well to rob Liam Trotter in the Fleet half. His ball forward to Poleon was promising and after a couple of twists and turns, the top scorer’s pass into Rakish Bingham was cut out for another corner by a Chelmsford foot.
But back came the hosts on 24 minutes when a cross from the right from James was well-weighted and Michael Folivi got up highest to swing a header just past the Fleet post.
Chelmsford managed to keep the Fleet nullified for a 10-minute spell after that until a great one-two between Chapman and Bingham eventually released Sterling for a shot he whistled just over the bar.
Poleon came out with intent in the second-half, his strength holding off his marker and a shot into the side netting took a deflection on the way straight after kick-off. From the corner, Chapman pinged an effort quickly across Beach’s goalmouth.
Substitute Cundle had an eventful opening after replacing Sterling at the break. Moments after being booked, he embarked on a solo run on 52 minutes that took him through several players and with intent he just kept going until the goal opened up before him and the finish he applied was just perfect for the opener.
Two minutes later Bingham drove a shot goalwards that hit a Chelmsford shirt with strong appeals from the men in teal for a handball but the referee wasn’t interested in that. Poleon then did well to keep hold of Bingham’s through ball, finding Edser in the box who was blocked off and Wright sent a follow-up over the bar.
Chelmsford had a couple of searching balls forward that might have prioved problematic had the Fleet defence not been focused and Cousins had to take a bending Tom Blackwell free-kick. Blackwell came closer to an equaliser on 71 minutes after taking down a pass 12 yards out but he delayed slightly too long with the goal gaping and Wright did ever so well to close him down and get a foot in.
At the other end, Luke O’Neill drew a good stop from Beach who had to fling himself and a glove out as the full-back’s mid-height cross came fizzing in.
But much of the fizzing went Chelmsford’s way with eight minutes left. A corner was nodded on by Simeon Jackson and with Cousins trying to get across, the ball seemed destined for the bottom corner but Clifford got there to hack off the line. Moments later Khale da Costa swung his foot through a shot and it sped through the box, curling away at the last moment.
There was some late controversy when another excellent chance for Chelmsford saw a ball to the far post cause havoc as Cousins grabbed the ball on the line but was bundled over it. The home fans thought the referee had awarded an equaliser but he pulled play back for a foul on the Fleet keeper.
For all tha late pressure, it was Fleet who might have grabbed the game’s second goal. Away on the break, Poleon fought off Frankie Terry to get a run on goal but his shot was blocked by the same defender tracking back and went behind for a corner which ate up enough seconds to see the Fleet home and dry.
On to Farnborough for another midweek awayday but in this present form, nothing is fazing the Fleet and the promotion pursuit continues in Hampshire.
EUFC: Cousins, O’Neill (Martin 80), Jombati, Hollis, N’Guessan (Clifford 64), Wright, Chapman, Sterling-James (Cundle 46), Edser, Bingham, Poleon. Subs: Domi, Coulthirst
CCFC: Beach, James, Barnum-Bobb, Trotter, Folivi (Jackson 56), Jones, Brookes, Terry, Yila (Da Costa 74), Johnson (Blackwell 61), A. Krasniqi. Subs: Yearn, E. Krasniqi
Attendance: 972
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