Wednesday 28th April 2010, Heybridge Swifts FC, Kick-Off 7:30pm, Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup Final supported by Chelmsford Radio.
A second half burst earned Chelmsford City the Pelly Under 18s Cup as they scored three times after the interval to beat Lodge Youth, 3-0, at Heybridge Swifts FC, completing a league and County Cup double for the Clarets.
“We’re very pleased tonight” said Chelmsford boss Bob Batchford after the game. “The first half was very tight, but I could see their players tiring towards the end of the first half and they started over-stretching for tackles. I told the players at half-time they will win the game if they keep the ball down and play it as well as using the channels. As it happens we practised all three of the goals we scored and I’m particularly pleased with the second one. The positioning and delivery were perfect and the header was fantastic.”
Goals from Andy Elgar, Tyrone Scarlett and Ryan Cooper merited City’s victory, but not after a tight first half that saw the game goalless at the interval. Lodge had the edge on early opportunities, Tim Gbadeyan firing over the top from 20 yards before flashing a shot too high after ‘keeper Lewis Batchford tipped Ryan Kay’s effort onto the bar.
Chelmsford soon threatened themselves, though, and before half-time Daniel Elsey shot off-target before striking the post from a most acute angle following Joe Mayer’s flick-on. Elgar had already tested Lodge ‘keeper Pat Gaskin before his 35-yard free-kick caught Lodge cold and bounced into the top corner of the net to give City a 56th-minute lead.
Batchford kept the lead intact with a fine block to deny Kay but it was an advantage that was doubled just four minutes later, Elgar cutting a superb cross back for Scarlett to power into the far corner with a superb diving header to round-off a superb, flowing, one-touch move. The victory was completed six minutes from time as substitute Cooper latched onto a through-ball before coolly firing low past ‘keeper Gaskin.
After the game, Batchford beamed: “These players have worked extremely hard to get where they are today. Many of them have been training and playing with the First Team and the way they played tonight you’d have thought this was a First Team game. I’m very proud of them and our Under 18s next season will be very, very strong.”
Chelmsford City: Lewis Batchford, Stuart Latimer, Sean Jackson, Ryan Batchford, Ben Mason, Pearce Clarke (Ryan Cooper, 68), Daniel Elsey (Ross Lamb, 71), Brad Williams, Tyrone Scarlett, Joe Mayer (Adam Vyse, 90+2), Andy Elgar. Unused Substitutes: Robert Clarke, Lee Monk.
Lodge Youth: Pat Gaskin, Brandon McCrory, Tommy Phillips, Tom O’Reilly, Louis Kane, Joe Bricknell, Ryan Kay (Dushane Powell, 54), Jake Giddings, Jake Morgan (Senol Dembrilla, 71), Jack Leachman, Tim Gbadeyan (Alex Findlay, 59). Unused Substitutes: David Owusua.
Bookings: Chelmsford: Elgar (81, dissent), Mayer (90+2, unsporting behaviour). Lodge: Bricknell (80, unsporting behaviour).
Referee: Graham Moore (Latchingdon).
Assistant Referees: Chris Horsman (Wivenhoe) and Ian Butler (Dunmow).
Fourth Official: Andrew Langsdon (Wivenhoe).
Attendance: 178.