It was a little like 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' at New Lodge on a cold Monday evening with promotion practically gone and the hard graft of a tough season not bearing the expected fruits of promotion.

But to their credit all the City players, who probably enjoyed the relief of 90 minutes of two sides wanting to play football instead of being felled on and of the ball, as they were at VS Rugby, set out determined to win and collect three more points - because you never know, second placed Fisher Athletic could still slip up.

The City side, the nucleus of which, particularly the defence, should stay for a promotion assault next season if as now expected this campaign fails, played some positive football and were worthy winners in a reasonably entertaining game.

They could have taken the lead in the second minute when Gary Bennett, City's best signing in recent seasons, struck the foot of the Sussex side's post and later in the first half, he was again unlucky not to have found the net.

The first period was fairly even with City perhaps just having the edge.

They deservedly took the lead in the 36th minute when a Shane Bailey free-kick was met by John Bishop who thumped the ball home to open the scoring.

City, playing a 4-4-2 formation in the first half just failed to build on this breakthrough, although certainly not for the lack of endeavour.

Manager Gary Bellamy changed to a 4-4-3 at half-time with Ollie Berquez joining a three-pronged attack and this definitely made all the difference as City completely dominated the game.

The old problem of not being able to score goals was evident again and despite the front three going close on several occasions it was left to Bennett, 10 minutes from time, to create the much needed cushion of a second goal when his fine low shot was turned into the net by St Leonards defender Paul Ruddy.

Bellamy clearly knows what is needed for next season, whether promoted or not, and apart from someone to support Bennett up front, they obviously need an experienced playmaker in midfield, a player who can dictate play which has crucially been missing this term.

Chelmsford City: Catley; B Girling, Wardley, Dobinson, Bishop; Reeve, Newby, Bailey, Berquez; Fuller and Bennett.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.