Chelmsford Preview

Stevenage travel to Essex on Wednesday night to face Chelmsford City in their first pre-season game of the new campaign, a year after beating Mark Stimson’s Gillingham at Priestfield. It will be a good test for the players to face a team who weren’t far away from winning promotion to the Blue Square Premier last time around and of course it’s the first chance for the Boro fans making the trip to see the new summer signings in action in a Boro shirt.

I think Graham Westley will take a strong squad to Melbourne Park and don’t expect to see as many trialists as seen in previous pre-season games down the years. Considering it is the first game of the new season, then I would of thought that it will be two separate teams playing a half each, but it’s unknown whether he’ll mix it up for play a reserve team for one half and his first team for the other?

Chelmsford began their pre-season on Saturday, but were beaten by Bury Town. Although they have already started their pre-season matches, I doubt they’ll be any fitter than the Boro side that plays Wednesday night. Graham Westley’s men have been back in full-time training now for about 2 1/2 weeks so should be hitting a good level of fitness ahead of a busy schedule.

There will be a few familiar faces on the opposition side on Wednesday night. Former Boro striker Danny Hockton recently re-joined Chelmsford from Braintree, whilst striker James Lawson was on trial at Boro two summer’s ago. Another ex Boro player now plying his trade in Essex is Ollie Berquez. The former Canvey Island and Woking midfielder was signed by Graham Westley in 2005, but failed to make an impact at Broadhall Way. There is no surprise that most of the Chelmsford side is made up of ex Canvey Island players considering their manager is Jeff King, who helped guide Canvey to their successful period in the early 2000′s. Other familiar faces include Chris Moore (ex Dag & Red), Dave Rainford (ex Dag & Red) and Andy Duncan (ex Cambridge).

So as you can see there are a lot of experienced players at Chelmsford and it won’t be an easy trip for Boro.

A handy thing to know about Wednesday night’s clash is that it will be reduced entry. The club have knocked prices down to £5 for adults and £1 for U16′s, when accompanied by an adult. It’s an initiative I’d like our club to introduce to pre-season fixtures as I think it would get a lot more fans through the door and it may tempt some into following the club for the league season.

Directions to Chelmsford City FC

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Mitchell Cole, Joel Byrom, Yemi Odubade, Jerome Anderson, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Chelmsford 1-2 Boro