NOTHING DOING IN A TEDIOUS STALEMATE
CHELMSFORD and Welling were forced to take a share of the spoils each following an uninspiring draw.
The visitors threatened first as Jack Jebb flashed a free-kick across goal before Brendan Kiernan’s delivery across the six-yard box went without conversion.
Joe Anderson’s clever backheel sent Rhys Murphy through inside the box but the striker’s low shot drew a tame save from Daniel Wilks before Tom Wraight’s audacious lob landed on the roof of the net.
Having let numerous scrappy tackles go without being penalised early on, referee Daniel Lamport soon began brandishing his cards, with Anthony Church, James Hurst and Acheampon all being booked in the space of seven minutes.
Anderson’s excellent cross from the left wing spotted Chuch inside the area but the City skipper could only watch as his powerful header was smothered to safety.
City entered the break marginally on-top but could still not beat Wilks as Fenwick’s fierce volley forced a save in added time.
In similar fashion to the first side, neither side were able to maintain a spell of dominance for long enough to take the lead.
Steve King’s side had loud claims for a penalty when Omozusi tackled Kiernan inside the area but referee Lamport remained unmoved.
The Clarets were forced into a change as Scott Fenwick came off holding his hamstring and Shaun Batt was Rod Stringer’s chosen replacement.
City had their own calls for a penalty turned down when Batt went down in the area before Anderson sent a volley well over.
David Ijha should have given then the visitors the lead when he latched onto a loose ball in the City box but he failed to keep his composure and lashed well over.
Batt tried to engineer a late goal as he committed to a tackle on the touchline but the substitute was shown a second yellow for a late challenge as he brought a close to a game of few chances.
But King felt it was a good point gained in Essex.
“We had the better chances,” said the Wings boss. “It was a horrible game to play and to watch.
“It’s a tough place to come and get a win.”
Meanwhile, City boss Rod Stringer added: “It was a very tough game. It probably wasn’t the best game for the neutral.”