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Clarets edge out Wombles

Chris Moore came off the bench and netted his first competitive goals in City colours to strengthen the Clarets' position at the top with a sensational win over A.F.C. Wimbledon at a soggy Melbourne Park.

The former Dagenham & Redbridge forward burst into second-half action to add two strikes to Jon Keeling's 2nd-minute opener which claimed victory despite replies from the Dons' Danny Kedwell and Jon Main.

Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather was delighted with the result, explaining: "Now we've rubber-stamped our credentials as serious challengers for promotion."

Heavy rainfall made for a particularly interesting spectacle, and Pennyfather believed it was the home side that made the best adjustments to suit the weather on the day, continuing: "It's never nice playing in those conditions as it's not conducive to good football.

"It was a slippery pitch which led to some mistakes, although it was the same for both teams out there."

Ian Cousins returned to left-back in place of Spencer Knight, coming back from the groin injury which had kept him out fro several weeks. Meanwhile, Bertie Brayley was chosen as the lone front man in place of Moore.

They were part of a buzzing City team which raced into the lead just 2 minutes into play, Keeling's low corner-kick evading a posse of near-post bodies to curl straight into the net.

The same player was then responsible for two defensive intakes of breath for the visitors, firstly sending a free-kick towards 'keeper Andy Little's goal then providing a far-post delivery just after the half-hour mark which Dave Rainford jumped to head into the side-netting.

In-between, Wimbledon's Kedwell dribbled down the left and centred for Sam Hatton to casually tap well wide.

The 35th minute brought about a change in match officials as referee, Mr Kendall, was sufficiently unwell to continue.

An eight-minute delay followed while the senior assistant referee, Mr Sage, took over and a suitably-qualified replacement was plucked from the crowd to resume with the flag for the rest of the fixture.

Once proceedings got back underway, Risky Holmes was next to threaten for the Clarets when he cut inside from the left and hammered a shot narrowly over, a fate which was to also apply to a subsequent Jeff Minton free-kick.

Moments before the interval, however, the visitors went close to an equaliser when hot-shot Main was slipped through on goal only for the alert Danny Gay in the City goal to rush out and claim the ball at the striker's feet.

Main opened the second half with a similar situation, which came to nothing, while centre-half Kennedy Adjei also rose high to head purposefully towards goal but over the crossbar.

Though the early stages of the second period belonged to half-time replacement Moore, who netted his first on 54 minutes. He collected the ball from a confused defender before rounding Little and dispatching low into the net.

Three minutes later the home supporters could hardly believe what they were seeing and the predicted cagey match was tipped heavily in City's favour when Moore converted Chelmsford's third.

On this occasion, Holmes was the provider as he sprinted down the left before delivering into the goalmouth where Moore was waiting to add the finishing touch.

"We saw the best of Chris Moore today and I was glad to see him end his barren spell in front of goal," added Pennyfather after the game.

Holmes could have contributed another himself in the 65th minute when his lofted cross changed direction in mid air to become a shot which arrowed across the face of goal, though the arrears were reduced at the other end when a right-wing cross was diverted into the far corner by the head of Kedwell.

With the game drawing to a close, tackles became more difficult on the wet surface and the new referee was quick to issue cards for the slightest misdemeanour, keeping his book open to take eight players' names in the final twenty-two minutes. This led to a lengthy period of stoppage time which the Dons took full advantage of, Main making it third time lucky with only Gay to beat as he prodded a late reply.

This created a tense atmosphere in the final few minutes though the Clarets saw out the time to record a momentous victory. Pennyfather and the Management Team could then focus on their next 'top vs second' game in seven days time, concluding: "Hopefully we can all push on now and do equally well in what will be another massive game at Maidenhead United next week."

Referee: R. Kendall (Luton) (replaced on 43 minutes by M. Sage).

Assistant Referees: M. Sage (Luton), replaced on 43 minutes by P. Gorrie (Chelmsford), and G. Viccars (Bletchley).

Attendance: 2,318.

The Chelmsford City official website.