Blues 1 Chelmsford City 1

By Hamish Arnold

The Blues played out a 1-1 draw in a friendly match against former National League South rivals Chelmsford City.

Managed by former Blues boss Rod Stringer, the Clarets used the opportunity to play some trialists, as did Steve Smith and Jamie Cureton – who didn’t feature as a player.

Three trialists started for the Blues, one at left-back (#3), one at right-midfield (#11), and one as a striker (#10).

The match had a slow start before the first real moment of quality came just after the half-hour mark, when the Blues #11 raced through on goal and played a delightful chip over the onrushing goalkeeper from the edge of the box which landed in the bottom right corner.

Chelmsford equalised soon after the break, when Sam Robbins fouled in the box for the third time in four games to concede a penalty, which Isaac dispatched into the top right corner.

That was how the match ended, and more important than the result was a good run out for the existing players and possibly some new additions, in what would have been a nine day break between matches.

The Blues travel to Kingstonian on Bank Holiday Monday in a return to league action.

TEAMS

Bishop’s Stortford

1. Fred Burbidge

2. Ben Sampayo

3. Trialist

4. Harry Morgan (Sub #15 Johnville Renee 71′)

5. Sam Robbins (c)

6. Ryan Henshaw (Sub #17 Mark Haines 46′)

7. Ryan Charles (Sub #14 Trialist 68′)

8. William Mycroft-Edwards

9. Olly Miles

10. Trialist (Sub #16 Yassier Nazor 58′)

11. Trialist (Goal 31′) (Sub #18 Kane Lowe 58′)

Chelmsford City

1. Trialist

2. Trialist (Sub #12 46′)

3. Shaw

4. Simpson (Sub #10 Gregan 64′)

5. Edobar (Sub #17 78′)

6. Trialist

7. Isaac (Goal – pen 47′)

8. Osborn

15. Trialist

16. Fennell

19. Jeffers (Sub #9 75′)