East Thurrock led after 40 seconds through Sam Higgins but they had to peg back two Rob Edmans strikes, Sam Collins levelling at 2-2 in the fourth minute of injury time. Higgins put the Rocks back in front, Slabber equalised for City and Max Cornhill netted an apparent 116thminute winner until Kris Newby's sensational goal in the 121st. The resulting penalty shootout ended 5-3 in favour of Pennyfather’s men. The Clarets had made it to the proper rounds for the third straight year, but the reward on this occasion was easily the best. The local and national build-up for the Colchester match was frenzied, and the squad were in no doubt as to the effect it would have on Chelmsford as a whole if they’d won. When Donovan Simmonds put the hosts in front they dared to dream. When he made it two, the scenes became more real. Michael Rose halved the arrears for the U’s with a 71st-minute free kick, but the Clarets' goalkeeper Stuart Searle went on to make some crucial late saves and Slabber added a third at the death which brought the house down. Never before had Melbourne witnessed such an event, and City were first on the TV highlights that night. It would be understandable if they’d taken their eyes off their other priorities for a moment during all the furore, but they met Dover Athletic again, and again, in the Trophy as they aimed to build another path towards silverware. The sides drew 1-1 at Melbourne and extra time was required again in the replay, the Clarets winning 4-2 then incredibly defeating Waltham Forest the next night in the County Cup. Was the intense schedule catching up with the squad? A notable 2-1 league win away at Basingstoke Town suggested otherwise, although a 3-0 loss at Hayes & Yeading United and a 1-1 Trophy draw at Ryman League Hampton & Richmond Borough caused concern. When the FA Cup returned to the forefront an early Simmonds dismissal didn’t help City’s cause as they were comprehensively beaten by Crawley. That was in early December, and the pre-Christmas league schedule was disrupted by wet weather, leaving the 3-2 defeat at Salisbury as the sole representation. However a road to Wembley was laid in the FA Trophy with an eventual win by the same score line over Hampton - but not until that game had been postponed three times! In the last 32, Chelmsford were handed a tough assignment at ex-Football League club Hereford United, which they passed with flying colours. An Edmans double and another from 65 | P a g e
CLARETfication! 75
t h
Anniversary Edition