Match Report | Chelmsford City

Barnet’s FA Cup journey continued as the club hosted Chelmsford City at The Hive. Manager, Dean Brennan made two changes from Tuesday’s game against Southend United. Rob Hall and Sam Woods made way for Sam Beard and Dale Gorman.

Before the match a minute’s silence was held for Remembrance Day as we remembered all those who fought for our country.

In the opening minute Barnet had the ball in the back of the net. Dale Gorman crossed the ball into the box which eventually found the head of Kabamba. The forward headed the ball into goal at close range only for it to be disallowed for offside.

Barnet applied a lot of pressure in the early stages of the game and came close to opening the scoring after some miscommunication between two Chelmsford City players. Nicke Kabamba stole the ball and founds Idris Kanu on the left wing. Kanu whipped the ball into the box, but his cross is intercepted by a Chelmsford defender.

Chelmsford then came close to scoring through Simeon Jackson. The Canadian burst down the right channel before cutting into the box and shooting at goal. The shot was excellently saved by Laurie Walker to keep the score level.

Moments later it was Chelmsford City keeper, Ovie Ejeheri that was called into action. Gorman’s free-kick on the edge of the Chelmsford box looked destined to find the net, only for the City keeper to tip it over the bar.

Laurie Walker was called into action again, saving a close-range header from one of the Chelmsford players. The rebound fell to another player in Claret which was hit over the bar.

The last chance of the half came for The Bees. A nice well-worked passage of play on the right-hand side presented Barnet with another chance to open the scoring, but Kabamba committed a foul in the box and a free-kick was given to Chelmsford.

HT: Barnet 0-0 Chelmsford City

Barnet started the second-half strong and broke the deadlock after 49 minutes. Sean Shields did well to beat his man and get a cross into the box. The cross found Kabamba who heads it back across the box to Ben Wynter, who volleys it into the net from close range. Shortly after the first goal, Barnet could have doubled their lead, but Ejeheri’s legs stopped Ryan De Havilland’s tight angle shot.

There are then calls from the Chelmsford City players for a penalty as one of their players goes down in the box, but Daniel Middleton the referee doesn’t look into it and the play continues.

Barnet had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when Harry Pritchard crossed the ball in at the perfect height, but no one was able to get to it.

The substitute Hall almost caught everyone off guard when he decided to shoot from distance, but Chelmsford’s goalkeeper was quick to react to the ball. In a brilliant bit of skill, Kanu took on three Chelmsford defenders and fired a low driven cross only to be cleared for a corner.

In the last minute of stoppage time, Chelmsford equalized. The corner came in and Charlie Ruff scored with a diving header.

The tie will now be decided by a replay.

Barnet FC XI

1. Laurie Walker 4. Danny Collinge 6. Jerome Okimo 8. Dale Gorman© 9. Nicke Kabamba 11. Idris Kanu 14. Harry Pritchard 21. Ben Wynter 23. Sam Beard 32. Sean Shields (Rob Hall 62′) 33. Ryan De Havilland

Unused subs: 5. Marvin Armstrong 16. Kian Flanagan 18. Connor Smith 28. Sam Woods 31. Aymen Azaze 

Attendance: 1725