CHELMSFORD CITY....................5

BURNHAM...................................0

(Dr Martens League Eastern Division)

City completed an tremendous Easter weekend goal blitz with this comprehensive demolition of Burnham at New Lodge on Wednesday evening, which brought a total of 20 goals in four games during a hectic seven days during which they only conceded one goal.

In what is one of their best ever end of season runs City have reaffirmed themselves as favourites to become the divisional champions while a win at home tomorrow (Saturday), against St Leonards, and three more points at Rothwell on Tuesday will effectively gain them promotion whether their rivals win or not.

Manager Gary Bellamy, delighted at his injury-hit side's four wins, said this performance was the best since he has been in charge at the club.

"Burnham have either beaten or drawn against our promotion rivals so they were never going to be a pushover as some people may have thought," he said. "But they couldn't cope with our style of flowing football, commitment and deadly finishing which was exceptional on the night.

"All the players did well and we could have scored more than five," said the manager. "Burnham simply couldn't cope and I hope our supporters will show their appreciation to them more when we play St Leonards."

Chelmsford City: Catley; Dobinson (Fuller), Lewis, Haydon, Campbell; Walker, Hyatt, Taylor, Berquez; Portway, Bennett. Unused subs: Newman and Rogers.

CHELMSFORD CITY..........6

WISBECH TOWN...............0

There was a price City had to pay for this overwhelming victory against the lowly Fenmen at New Lodge on Thursday evening with the indefinite loss of influential central defender John Bishop who was stretchered off two minutes from the interval.

He was the victim of a crude, pointless knee-high tackle off the actual the pitch from Wisbech skipper Lee Hyde, who was rightly given his marching orders, which marred a rather one-sided game.

City went into this game desperate to win all three points and re-establish themselves as the championship contenders and there was never any doubt who would win after the industrious Nicky Haydon opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a thunderous shot from fully 30 yards out that gave big goalkeeper Duncan Roberts no chance.

It set the tone for the rest of the evening with City setting up wave after wave on the visitors' goal which led a charmed life at times.

Admittedly the opposition was poor but City showed how professional they can be and the final scoreline was a true reflection of a fixture that had taken four attempts to complete.

Chelmsford City: Catley; Girling, Campbell, Bishop (Fuller), Lewis; Walker (Newman), Haydon, Taylor, Berquez (Rogers); Portway, Bennett.

Attendance: 388.

CHELMSFORD CITY................3

LANGNEY SPORTS................1

Again needing a vital win and three points to maintain their championship hopes, City faced their potentially most difficult game of the holiday weekend with the first ever visit of the league newcomers from Sussex who have managed to quickly establish themselves as a reasonable force in their debut season.

Both John Bishop and Kevin Dobinson were out injured but at least Freddie Hyatt returned in midfield.

In the end an impressive first half showing laid the foundations for the win and whilst City's defence in fairness were never really troubled all Saturday afternoon the visitors were by no means pushovers and it was a hard won-victory.

Chelmsford City: Catley; Girling, Campbell, Lweis, Haydon; Walker, Hyatt, Taylor, Berquez (Fuller); Portway, Bennett (Rogers). Sub unused: Newman.

Attendance: 625.

ASHFORD TOWN...............0

CHELMSFORD CITY...........6

There was never really any doubt about the outcome of this match even prior to the kick off with the home side having recently lost their manager and most of the first team players following the Kent club takeover by a new chairman who apparently insists his son plays!

But City, now on a high after two great earlier weekend wins, knew they had to go about it in a professional manner and ensure they won and won comfortable and scored as many goals as possible.

This they did on all accounts with their third 6-0 win within a month and with maximum weekend points, plus promotion rivals dropping some, this has further strengtemed their lead at the top and on recent form fully deserved.

Starting with the same side as two days earlier City set about their task from the kick off and on four minutes were a goal up thanks to a far post shot from Rob Walker having been set up by Freddie Hyatt.

It was not quite all one-way traffic - City goalkeeper Paul Catley had one hard shot to deal with on 13 minutes - but they did add an expected second two minutes later when Steve Portway scored from close range after Walker had headed the ball back across the goal.

Chelmsford City: Catley; Girling, Lewis (Fuller), Haydon, Campbell; Walker, Hyatt (Newman), Taylor, Berquez; Portway, Bennett (Rogers).

Attendance: 369.

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