A record-breaking goal blitz of 20 goals in four games over the Easter holidays has put Chelmsford City on the brink of promotion and a return to the Dr Martens League Pre-mier Division after a gap of four years.

This is a marvellous achievement for a top non-league football club without a home yet remaining one of the best supported across the country.

City's four wins in seven days with scores of 6-0, 3-1, 6-0 and 5-0, leaves them with a minimum of seven points needed from their last five games to gain promotion back to the higher division.

But with a hectic run-in of games, which sees promotion rivals having to play each other, City are determined to go up as champions.

An estatic club chairman, Peter Stroud, yesterday (Thursday) said: "We're almost there and it's a wonderful feeling and yes we want to go up as champions because we have shown, particularly over the last four games, that we are the best footballing side in the division.

"Full credit goes to manager Gary Bellamy and the all the team for coming back and showing what they are made of by scoring 20 goals and conceding only one over the Easter period," he said. "I think we played probably our best football since I have been at the club on Wednesday against Burnham and it was a delight to watch.

"To come back as we have has been tremendous with the pressure on us as league leaders and with a limited number in the squad, plus long term injuries to players like John Bishop and Ian Cousins," he said.

"I think that having to play eight out of nine games away since early February took its toll on the players and showed how unkind the fixtures have been."

Manager Gary Bellamy added: "We have done well over Easter but the job's not done - we have to keep winning and not worry about others but ensure that we keep getting the points and hopefully go up as champions. Our football in the Burnham match was excellent.''

Late on Thursday, City chairman Peter Stroud confirmed that Premier Division side Sunderland will be coming to play a first team pre-season friendly at New Lodge, probably on August 11. The match has been initially arranged by City assistant boss Paul Parker.

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