Match Preview

Chelmsford City host Essex rivals, Concord Rangers on Saturday, in a game where the Clarets will look to get back to winning ways after their 0-0 draw away at Gloucester City last weekend.

Despite the frustrating result at Evesham, the draw extended City's unbeaten run to 6 games in all competitions.

In the previous fixture at the Aspect Arena in October, Concord Rangers ran out 3-0 winners. The Beach Boys scored 3 first half goals courtesy of Jack Midson, Alex Wall and Liam Nash, leaving Chelmsford with no way back in the second half.

City still have hopes of automatic promotion this season and a win this weekend will surely put them in good stead when they travel to Torquay United on Tuesday evening [5th March].

Team News:

Chelmsford will still be without defender Joe Anderson (knee), midfielder Tom Wraight (face) is a doubt.

Defender Adrian Cascaval (ribs) and midfielder Chez Isaac (hip) could both be in contention, the latter featured for the Clarets in a mid-week friendly at Bishops Stortford.

View from the Camp:

Manager, Rod Stringer, said:

"There's no revenge on my mind" he said. "At the end of the day, it's 3 points.

"Obviously they've had a good season and we have no reason to moan when we got beat down there, we accepted that. We never started well and we never got going; you have to give credit to Concord on the night, but Saturday will be another game.

"They've had a very good season, I must say. It looks like the Club have been well backed this year and shown its ambitions to try and get to the top end of the division, rather than fighting relegation.

"We know that if we don't show the respect, don't work hard enough and don't put our bodies on the line at times as well as try to play football, we know it will be a tough game.

"If there's ever a chance to reverse the fixture and reverse the result, then it'll be Saturday.

"We have some tough games coming up, obviously with Concord on Saturday then all of a sudden, we have Torquay United away on Tuesday. Hopefully we can get 6 points out of the two games. It'll be massive for us."

You can read the full preview with Rod here.

View on the Opposition:

Concord Rangers currently sit in 10th place, 6 points adrift from the play-off spots after only one win [vs Bath City] in their last 5 League games.

The Beach Boys are currently managed by former professional footballer, Sammy Moore, who previously managed Leatherhead last season [2017-18]. Also part of their coaching staff is striker, Jack Midson, who is a Player/Assistant Manager for the Canvey Island based outfit.

In their ranks are former Clarets' goalkeeper Sam Beasant and winger Danny Green, who both played for City last season. Beasant made 42 appearances in both League & Cup, whilst Green made 37 appearances, scoring 3 goals.

Concord will be without defenders Frazer Shaw and Lee Minshull, who both serve the final game of their suspensions.

Midfielder, Joan Luque, spoke with BeachBoys TV mid-week after their 2-2- draw away at Hemel Hempstead:

"This will be the most special game for me since I have been here, I used to live in Chelmsford" He said. "It's a really big Derby for me and a really important game for us.

"We need to win and keep fighting for the play-off positions. I'm really looking forward to it.

Manager, Sammy Moore, said:

"It's our cup final, it's the fans cup final. There's a bit of rivalry between the two clubs.

"They'll want to try and get one back over us for beating them 3-0.

"If we're going to hit the play-off's, we need to go and win that game of football and we've got to go and take it to them."

Admission:

Admission on the day for this weekend’s game is as follows:

• Adults – £15
• Concessions (including Students) - £10
• 12 to 17-year-olds – £5
• Under 12’s – Free

Tickets can be purchased online up to 8pm on Friday 1st March on the Club’s online ticket website here.

*Online ticket prices are as follows:

• Adults – £13
• Concessions (including Students) - £10
• 12 to 17-year-olds – £5
• Under 12’s – Free

Social Media:

Chelmsford City will be providing live minute-by-minute coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets, #CHEvCON) as well as live audio commentary on Radio Clarets.

Post-match reports, highlights and interviews will be found on the Club Website and Clarets TV following the match.