Times Sport
Boreham Wood controversially beaten by Chelmsford City
2:05pm Tuesday 20th December 2011
Chelmsford City extended their unbeaten league run to 15 matches in controversial fashion against a hard done by Boreham Wood side that until the 67th minute were in total control of proceedings.
What followed smacked of bitter resentment, with referee Mr Coggins awarding a controversial second goal, which appeared a clear offside, followed by a Premiership-style second yellow card for Sam Cox for a tackle that was micro-seconds mistimed after Kezie Ibe had struck a superb third goal inside seven horrible minutes for the visitors.
Thereafter there was no way back for Wood, who are left with just one point from 12 in their recent run, in stark contrast to their previous fine run of form that featured six straight wins to propel them from potential relegation trouble to a lofty seventh in the table.
Michael Thalassitis celebrated his recent call-up to a national training camp for the Under-19 Cyprus team with a superb performance in front of goal, where his pace and presence allowed Wood to literally camp out in the Clarets half for long periods of the game.
Wood took control from the kick-off when Sam Lechmere, down the right, found David Bryant and his ball across goal was perfect for Thalassitis, who shot just wide. Bryant and Thalassitis again combined with the Stevenage loan player’s shot deflected wide by a defender.
The early pressure paid off after six minutes when Lechmere played a right-sided corner out to Bryant. His fierce volley was blocked but it fell Cox, who controlled a sweet strike from 25 yards out that gave former Chelsea keeper Stuart Searle no chance.
City were less than convincing with their deliveries from corners on the evening, yet after nine minutes they got it right, with Michael Jordan only half clearing, relying on his defenders to scramble a shot off the line.
Thalassitis again went close before City, playing on the counter-attack, sent Craig Parker through on goal, only for Jordan to rush out and make a brave block on the edge of the area.
Wood continued to threaten, with a Mark Jones cross that ran dangerously across goal, but Cox was harshly booked after 23 minutes when he got the slightest of touches on Clark, who went to ground.
At this stage, Wood were keeping The Clarets on the defensive for long periods. Ibe had a rare chance on the counter, yet slipped and shot straight at Jordan, before Osei Sankofa produced a fine blocking tackle to deny Warren Whitely.
Whitely caused problems for Wood after the interval with a penetrating run. His final ball was intercepted by Luke Wilkinson and with Jordan out of position, the whole ground waited with baited breath as the ball ran just wide of the right hand post.
Wood rode their luck with some tight offside traps until an excellent run from Thalassitis down the left saw him power past Adam Tann and into the penalty area, pulling back a fine ball into the path of Daryl McMahon, whose powerful volley sailed just over the bar.
With Cliff Akurang failing to make an impact against a focused Charlie O'Loughlin, he was swiftly replaced with Michael Bakare by Clarets manager Glenn Pennyfather.
Parker played Ibe through into the penalty area and a brief lack of concentration from O'Loughlin sent the forward to ground, allowing Parker to beat Jordan from the spot for an equaliser after 67 minutes.
Five minutes later a cross from the left was not taken by Jordan, with Bakare seemingly miles offside when he bundled the ball in at the far post. To the shock of all those present, Mr Coggins allowed the goal to stand.
With scarcely time to feel bitter, Ibe produced a moment of magic, swerving on the spot in a crowded area to lash home a superb finish high into the roof of the net after 74 minutes for City's third goal in seven minutes.
Wood were dragged into the depths of despair just a minute later when Mr Coggins sent Cox packing after what was an innocuous sliding tackle, a decision that was extremely harsh on the Barnet loan player.
City were now full of confidence and substitute Tosan Ebigbeyi-Popo almost added to Wood's misery after a quickly taken free-kick. Jordan saved well to keep the scoreline at 3-1, which did little to hide Wood boss Ian Allinson's frustrations at the final whistle.
Boreham Wood: Jordan, Sankofa, Jones, Cox, O'Loughlin, Wilkinson, Lechmere (Hunter 80), McMahon, Thalassitis, Bryant, Hutton (Cochrane 80). Not used: Johnson, Koranteng and Beckles.