29th October 1999
29th October 1999 ATHLETIC must wait for a late fitness test on Andrew Holt before naming their side for tomorrow's nerve-wracking FA Cup tie against Chelmsford. The defender is struggling with a dead leg and could be ruled out of a match Athletic must win to avoid massive embarrassment.
According to the bookies, Boundary Park is the least likely of all the first-round venues to provide a cup upset. That is yet another incentive for part-timers Chelmsford, most of whose players were taking a day off work today to travel up for their moment in the spotlight. The Essex club expect to bring around 1,500 fans — double their average home gate and a number which shows how the town has been gripped by FA Cup fever. They know they have to bridge a five-division gap, but will take heart from Athletic's record of only two wins in seven league and cup games at Boundary Park.
Athletic's line-up hinges on Holt, who has missed only two games in the last 20 months. If the left wing-back misses out, his place will be contested by Ian McLean — a rare feature in the first-team squad — and midfield man Mark Innes. Innes is the most likely candidate as, much to Athletic's relief, John Sheridan is back in action after a bad dose of 'flu. David McNiven is also in the reckoning after recovering from an ankle injury, while Matthew Tipton and Steve Whitehall continue to put pressure on the current front pairing of Mark Allott and Craig Dudley. Both Tipton and Whitehall scored twice for the reserves in midweek, making it four goals in a week for the young Welshman.
ATHLETIC (from): Kelly, Adams, Holt, Innes, S McNiven, Hotte, Graham, Duxbury, Sheridan, Rickers, Allott, Dudley, Miskelly, Futcher, Whitehall, Tipton, D McNiven, McLean. Chelmsford play in the Dr Martens League eastern division and currently stand just outside the promotion places.
They are sweating over the fitness of star striker Tesfaye Bramble, who has a hamstring problem and would be a huge loss if he fails to recover. For many Chelmsford players, tomorrow is the biggest match of their careers. It is also vital to Athletic, who are hoping that a cup run will bring in the revenue they desperately need.
CHELMSFORD (from): Catley, B Girling, Wardley, Bishop, J Girling, Dobinson, Lakin, Bell, Sutton, Berquez, Fuller, Vincent, Reeve, Sonnex, Shirley, Hazell, Bramble.
STRUGGLING league players tackle ambitious part-timers in a competition with an incredible history of providing shocks . . . what happens next? According to sound logic, Athletic breeze into the FA Cup second round — history or no history. But, according to Chelmsford City manager Gary Bellamy, no-one should rule out another result to add to the cup’s litany of unlikely upsets. Bellamy brings his young side to Boundary Park tomorrow with a promise that — win, lose or draw — they will stand by their principles of pass and move. Chelmsford may be in the Dr Martens League eastern division, but their boss believes such an outlook could see them return to Essex with the newly-earned status of heroes. “I’ve seen reports on Oldham and I had them watched last week,” Bellamy said.
“I know we can’t out-battle them, so we’ll try to outplay them. “If my players believe in themselves and handle the pressure of the situation, they can outpass anybody, no matter what the level. “I know Oldham are struggling for confidence, so this game could do one of two things — it will either kick-start their season or bury it altogether.” Bellamy is a former Wolves, Chesterfield and Orient defender who spent time on the PFA’s management committee. As such, he has too much common sense to sound futile warnings or make rash predictions. He does, however, believe in his players and recognise the opportunity the tie has given them. Chelmsford, who won 3-2 at Horsham YMCA in the final qualifying round, are having to ground share with Billericay after selling their ground for development. Bellamy revealed: “The excitement around here has been building ever since the draw was made. “We had the FA Cup on display in town last week and now everyone expects us to bring it back in May. “Chelmsford have been in the doldrums for a few years, but we are working hard as a team and a club to put ourselves on the map.
“This is a brilliant opportunity, particularly as there are lads here with hopes of moving into the professional game.” The jewels in the crown are all aged 19, namely full-back Darren Wardley, centre-half Kevin Dobinson and the exotically-named Tesfaye Bramble, a striker who has trained with Norwich and Tottenham and is the brother of Titus, one of Ipswich’s best young talents. Bellamy believes that youth will be the key to his team’s hopes of earning a replay, or even an outright win. He said: “The young lads will be fine. They will handle the whole day and take everything in their stride. “It’s the older players who might have a problem because they have never experienced this before and could get a bit overawed.” The Clarets, who are five rungs below Athletic in the league ladder, are fighting hard to overcome the barrier of being homeless. They have a thriving youth programme, plans for a new £2million stadium and a wealthy chairman in Peter Stroud, whose computer firm is sponsoring tomorrow’s game and also employs midfielder Barry Lakin. Chelmsford have flirted with Football League status without ever making it, but their cup history includes wins against a handful of league clubs, most recently Oxford in 1968. They have survived five rounds to reach this stage and their last venture into the competition proper was in 1994/95 when they lost 4-0 at Wycombe. Bellamy’s hopes of promotion to the Dr Martens League premier division suffered a double setback this week when his side lost two league games, making it three defeats for the season. He explained: “We’ve had 10 tough games back to back, eight of them away from home, and it’s beginning to tell. “My players are finding it hard to sustain their mental effort. Mind you, they’ve had half a mind on the cup tie all week.”
That is hardly surprising for a team who see this match — against a club who were in the semi-finals only five years ago — as their very own cup final. Athletic have suffered enough FA Cup heartbreak in this decade of violent ups and downs. Defeat tomorrow would be simply unimaginable.
The Latics have lost just once before to non-league opposition at Boundary Park in an FA Cup tie. The defeat came at the hands of South Shields in a replay 30 years ago. Chelmsford manager Gary Bellamy is doubtless hoping that his team can repeat South Shields exploits tomorrow: "The excitement is electric. We achieved our aim by reaching the first round and, to be honest, would have been happy to draw anyone. As it is we have been given a real boost, and it would be even better if we could get through to round two."
The City team will be travelling up to Lancashire on Friday, with Fuller and Bramble due to undergo intensive treatment in the meantime. Lee Sonnex is on stand-by should either fail to recover in time.
The Nationwide Division Two hosts have lost four of their six games at Boundary Park this season, scoring just six goals in the process, a fact that will give City plenty of heart as they bid to pull off one of the shocks of the round.
The Travel Club coaches to Oldham are proving very popular, and late bookings can still be accepted on 01245 472009 or 283244. The coaches leave from the County Hotel only, at 8:30am with a return fare of £13 for adults and £7 for juniors. Matchday tickets cost £13 for adults and £6 for concessions. If a replay is required it will be at Colchester United on Wednesday, November 10 at 7:45pm.