With possibly their strongest line-up of the season, Chelmsford extended their lead at the top of Division One to six points with a comfortable 6-2 win over second-in-the-table Berkhamsted at Chelmer Park on Saturday.

While Chelmsford never really got into top gear, the visitors were reeling after just ten minutes as Chelmsford took an early two-goal lead through a Simon Lewis penalty corner strike and one from Jonty Clarke.

The lead was further extended with a brilliant solo effort from Shuhel Malique, who beat four defenders on a mazy dribble before firing an unstoppable shot in off the far post.

Although Berkhamsted pulled a goal back through John Anderson just before half-time, their joy was short-lived as Lewis converted his second corner on the stroke of half-time to give Chelmsford a 4-1 interval lead.

After the break, Chelmsford fell into the trap of running with the ball and failed to convert their superiority into goals. The visitors reduced the deficit again with another breakaway goal from Anderson.

It was not until the last ten minutes that Chelmsford sealed the win with two set-piece goals from Adam Hunter from penalty corners to make the final score 6-2 and with just seven matches remaining this season, Chelmsford could not ask to be in a better position.

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