Chelmsford hit the "Perfect 10" – by Adrian Tuff, 24 February, 2009

Slazenger England Hockey League Men's Conference East

Chelmsford Men’s 1st XI 10 – 1 City of Peterborough 1st XI

Last weekend saw the most important game of Chelmsford’s season so far, and it ultimately proved comprehensive. The home side, playing at home in front of an expectant crowd, dispatched Peterborough ten goals to one in a vital clash between two sides floundering at the tail end of the league table.

Chelmsford’s superiority was evident from the beginning, with Josh Mepham scoring after only two minutes through a piece of clinical finishing at the far post. The second goal came only seven minutes later. Elliott Seleska successfully wrong footing the ‘keeper from the top of the ‘D’. Chelmsford’s Adam Hunter then got in on the action, scoring from a routine short-corner, although much to his dismay he found out after the match that it was attributed to someone else!

Elliott Seleska scored again fifteen minutes later extending Chelmsford’s lead to 4-0, gathering the rebound from an earlier strike and finishing well. On the 33rd minute Peterborough obtained their only consolation, Joe Bradley scoring after a scrappy period of play but their celebrations were short-lived. Two minutes later Luke Mepham scored from another penalty corner just before the interval.

Despite leading at the break and in a relatively comfortable position for the first time this season, the second half saw another five Chelmsford goals without reply. Ross Henderson scored twice and Josh Mepham completed his hat-trick. Then recent Australian signing Geoff Mills scored his debut goal a minute from time.

Excellent cameo performances from teenagers Oliver Wickham and Richard Nourse showed promise and a goalmouth clearance in the first half by captain Ian Belchamber proved Chelmsford’s qualities at both ends of the pitch.

This result lifts Chelmsford clear of the relegation zone for the first time this season and into eighth position, only four points adrift of Holcombe in seventh. City of Peterborough displace Chelmsford at the bottom and look to be in trouble. On Sunday Chelmsford play away against local rivals Old Loughtonians, the game pushes back at 2pm at Old Loughts Luxborough Lane venue.

East Grinstead prove too strong for Super Two’s

Higgins Group London League - Division 1

East Grinstead 3rd XI 5 – 1 Chelmsford Men’s 2nd XI

In a match rescheduled from an icy 24th January, the 2’s travelled south to East Grinstead for a 4.30pm Sunday game. Location and game time were against us as we struggled to secure our usual squad during the week.

Turning up with the bare 11 was made worse by the sight of a 16 strong East Grinstead squad. Chelmsford started the game well but were under constant pressure from a very different looking EG squad to the team they beat in the first half of the season. The 2’s absorbed the pressure well and even counterattacked, coming close on a number of occasions.

With more pressure before the half was up, it fell to Adrian Ericsson with some fantastic saves in goal to keep the score at 0-0 at half time.
Chelmsford were very pleased with the score line so far and would have settled for the full time whistle there and then! During the second half EG piled on more pressure and this was added by two of their first team players who had returned from their premier league game vs Southgate. After a while the increased pressure from EG paid off and they broke away to score the opener. Celebrations were brief as most of the EG team did not know the name of the scorer.....

From then on the game started to go EG's way with another goal, before Chelmsford came back from an unorthodox short corner with D.J. Carts scoring from a close range rebound.

The game looked close again until more counter attacking from EG gave them another goal before a solo effort from one of their second half recruits put them 4-1 up. Just before the final whistle EG got another short corner that was converted high into the back of the goal by the EG captain.

Final score 5-1 to EG. Special thanks go to 4th XI captain Adrian Ericsson who had a brilliant game in goal and risked severe marital penalties to play for us, and also Tufty who played in his first 2nd team league game.

Next week, like the first team, Chelmsford travel to fifth placed local rivals Old Loughts who have been on a winning streak of late. The game is due to start at 1pm on Saturday