Jake Hutchinson, T’aizo Marcel -Dilaver and Kaan Bennett scored in a fiery 3-3 draw which saw a big comeback for the U’s in this evening’s “friendly”.
The U’s got themselves an early chance in the eleventh minute as some good play from Matt Yates and Jake Hutchinson creates some space for the former to run into, he puts a good ball in for Kaan Bennett who connects but it’s defended well and the linesman gave a goal kick.
Three minutes later Chelmsford had the lead, a quick counterattack lead to a crossing opportunity for the Clarets. The winger lifted in a lovely ball which was met with an equally lovely header, giving Collins no chance to make the save, 1-0.
In the twenty-second minute the U’s went close to equalising, some lovely play from Gene Kennedy created space and he found Hutchinson, the striker flicked it on to T’aizo Marcel-Dilaver who turned inside and tried to bend one into the far corner from distance, it took a nick on the way through from a Chelmsford defender resulting in a U’s corner which came to nothing in the end.
In the thirty-ninth minute Chelmsford made it 2-0, the U’s had a corner but were unable to make anything of it. The goalkeeper had it in his hands and went for a long ball towards their pacey loan striker, Jet Dyer was unfortunate as he tried to touch the ball down, but it rolled through to the Chelmsford striker who was one-on-one with Ted Collins. He smashed it past the U’s man at his near post and it was two.
Three minutes later the U’s almost replied instantly after Kennedy played an outstanding ball out to Oscar Thorn who took it in his stride brilliantly. The winger went all the way to the by-line before cutting inside and having a go, it was stopped well by the Chelmsford ‘keeper but played back into the path Thorn who had another crack. It was saved back into the path of the winger, this time he chose to lay it back to Marcel-Dilaver who aimed for the corner but once again the ‘keeper stopped the U’s from halving the deficit.
The U’s came under a lot of early pressure at the start of the second half with Chelmsford City doing the opposite of Maldon & Tiptree.
However, the U’s scored twice in quick succession to bring the scores level. A mistake at the back from Chelmsford allowed Jake Hutchinson to connect with a flying ball beautifully, the striker hit a perfect volley which flew into the bottom corner giving the otherwise brilliant Chelmsford goalkeeper no chance.
Thirty seconds later it was 2-2. The U’s stole the ball from kick off with Oscar Thorn running straight down the right-hand side, playing in a lovely ball to Marcel-Dilaver across the floor who of course made no mistake with his finish.
In the seventy-fourth minute the U’s made it 3-2, a quick break and a lovely pass put Hutchinson through on goal, the striker unselfishly found Bennet for an easy finish and the U’s were ahead.
In the eighty-second minute Chelmsford found a way back in, the U’s gave away a needless free kick in a dangerous area and a brilliant ball was met by a good header that beat the Trialist in goal.
That was the last of the chances and the U's came away from the game feeling like they could have won, although it was a very decent result against a very solid Chelmsford side.
Starting XI:
Ted Collins (Trialist), Matt Yates (Trialist), Harry Beadle (Bayan Aman), Frankie Terry, Jet Dyer (Trialist), Gene Kennedy, Kennedy Mupomba, T’aizo Marcel-Dilaver, Oscar Thorn (Kaleel Green), Kaan Bennett, Jake Hutchinson