Clinical Clarets hit City for seven in nightmare Essex trip

City suffered a chastening afternoon in Essex this afternoon as they were hit for seven by a rampant Chelmsford City side. Luke Skinner netted a late goal for the Romans but it couldn’t hide a massive setback in the battle to retain their National League South place.

It took the Clarets just four minutes to open the scoring when Barbrook steered the ball home after Charlie Binns parried Adigun’s shot into his path. City responded well and enjoyed their best spell of the game. They failed to test home keeper Phillips though and on 20 minutes Chelmsford doubled their lead through Grimwood’s close range header. Any hopes of turning the game around disappeared as the Clarets added two more goals in the space of four minutes. On 36 minutes Egbo curled a stunning 25-yard shot beyond Binns then Tompkins headed home from Adams corner.

Within three minutes of the restart it was 5-0. City failed to deal with another Adams corner, this time Grimwood applying the final touch. Owen Windsor’s well-struck effort was saved by Phillips as City finally got a shot on target on the hour mark but two minutes later Adigun’s composed finish made it 6-0. Uchegbulam added a seventh goal with 17 minutes left to leave City facing conceding eight goals for the first time in 70 years. However, they managed to avoid this ignominy thanks to some great late defending that defied the preceding carnage. And they then grabbed the final goal of the afternoon in the 79th minute, Moses Alexander-Walker setting up Skinner to sweep home his first goal for the club.