Chelmsford City 4–3 Concord Rangers
(Rees 40’, Jeffers 63’, 66’ (p), Spillane 80’: Sembie-Ferris 26’, Cawley 70’, Della-Verde 88’)
From the Melbourne Stadium
National League South
CONCORD Rangers came out on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller as they went down at derby rivals Chelmsford City.
Dion Sembie-Ferris had put Concord ahead but, in the end, second-half strikes from Steve Cawley and Lyle Della-Verde were not enough.
Both sides struggled with the windy conditions early on, with chances thin on the ground.
Elliott Buchanan’s point-blank header was saved by Concord's on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bailey Vose before a moment of inspiration did bring the first goal.
Sembie-Ferris, another loanee, raced down the left and curled an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
But the Clarets were level at the break - Josh Rees’ acrobatics giving Vose little chance.
But a five minute spell appeared to take the game away from Concord.
Robbie Willmott combined with Shaun Jeffers and the latter swept the ball home.
The same two players combined to good effect minutes later. Willmott played in Jeffers who was felled and he picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.
But Concord weren’t giving up. Cawley reduced arrears with a fine lobbed finish inside the final 20 minutes only for Michael Spillane to power a header into the far corner with 10 minutes remaining.
Clarets’ Anthony Church was given his marching orders after two quick-fire yellow-cards before Della-Verde made for an interesting last few minutes.
Concord Rangers: Vose, Girdlestone, Wyatt, Nasha, King, McKenzie, Sembie-Ferris, White, Miles (Chiedozie 79’), Cawley, Della-Verde
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