Chelmsford City saw their pre-season momentum halted as Witham Town ran out 2-1 victors at the Dunmow Group Community Stadium on Saturday. The Clarets, who had won their previous three warm-up fixtures, fell behind early after a defensive error, responded with an equaliser shortly after half-time but were unable to find a late leveller despite sustained pressure.
Early setback and a lively response
There was a slight delay before kick-off, with the match beginning a little after 3pm, yet it was Witham who struck first. After seven minutes an errant pass from Joe Grimwood allowed George Smith to seize possession and finish clinically to give the visitors an early lead. Chelmsford immediately sought a response and earned a promising free-kick two minutes later, but that opportunity was comfortably dealt with by Witham's goalkeeper.
The Clarets grew into the game and created the clearer openings. Jack Barham supplied an inviting cross in the 12th minute and Kamani McFarlane forced the hosts’ first shot on target in the 18th minute; his powerful effort was crucially cleared off the line by the visiting defence. A swift sequence later saw a through ball narrowly fail to release Grimwood, as the Witham keeper rushed from his line to claim.
Changes and selection
Manager Mark Cooper used the friendly to rotate his squad, making six changes from the side that faced Ipswich Town U21s the previous weekend. The front line was led by Leo Sery, Kamani McFarlane and Jack Barham, supported by an essentially trialist midfield. The selection underlined Chelmsford’s approach to pre-season: testing combinations while building match sharpness ahead of the 2026/27 National League South campaign.
Second-half twist and late pressure
Chelmsford levelled soon after the interval when Denzel Olopade met an excellent cut-back from Ricky Holmes and finished with composure. The goal suggested the Clarets might turn the match, but Witham restored their lead midway through the second period and defended resolutely to preserve the advantage.
- Final score: Chelmsford City 1 — Witham Town 2
- Chelmsford goalscorer: Denzel Olopade
- Witham goalscorer: George Smith (and a second for Witham)
| Half | Key moments |
|---|---|
| First | Witham opener (c.7'); Chelmsford pressure; cleared off line (18') |
| Second | Olopade equaliser early on; Witham regained lead mid-period; Chelmsford late pressure |
The result ends Chelmsford’s pre-season unbeaten sequence and supplies manager and supporters with clear areas to address before competitive fixtures begin. Defensive lapses, in particular the error that led to the opening goal, will be cause for attention, while the side’s ability to create chances and the finishing of attacking players offer encouraging signs.
For supporters the match provided a useful look at fringe and trial players ahead of the new campaign. The rotating squad suggests Cooper remains in a selection phase, seeking the right balance and combinations before the National League South season commences.
Attention now turns to the final stages of pre-season and the first competitive fixtures. Chelmsford will aim to tighten their defensive work and convert the promising attacking moments into consistent results as they prepare to contest a demanding league campaign.
