For the third successive game, the Stones win by a goal to nil courtesy of the goal machine Levi Amantchi who takes his total to 18 for the season in a Monday night football showdown.
The gaffer was able to recall a few of the regular starters including Devonte Aransibia who was back from suspension and Sol Wanjau-Smith as part of the front three.
With this, it was George Elokobi’s men who started the brighter as Wanjau-Smith provided the first opportunity of the night when some good build up play led to Matt Rush chesting the ball down for the frontman and his shot was tipped wide by keeper Joshua Oluwayemi.
However, the Stones were very fortunate not to go a goal down after 20 minutes when Callum Jones’ strike from 25 yards was parried by Lucas Covolan but Freddie Hockey’s rebound couldn’t be converted as he actually kicked the ball against himself whilst Covolan was still on the ground. Seconds later, Aransibia had a free kick just on the edge of the box which he looked to dip past Oluwayemi but the Clarets keeper decided to play it safe by pushing the awkward shot out for a corner.
Just shy of the midway point of the first half, Levi Amantchi would write his own script yet again as he skipped past Luke Jenkins brilliantly before darting his way towards the 6 yard box and powering past Oluwayemi for his 18th of the season.
Our lead was put under threat just past the half hour mark when Ben Brookes delivered a free kick towards Jenkins who was a constant threat in the air but thankfully went inches wide of Covolan’s goal.
The home side were starting to grow in confidence towards the end of the first half when some decent build up play led to the ball being pulled back for Henry Ochieng but could only blaze the ball far over Covolan’s goal and to the back of the racing track.
Wanjau-Smith nearly got the second half off to a flier of a start when a misplaced pass at the back led to Amantchi setting the ball for him on a plate but didn’t connect with it the way he wanted as it proved to be easy for Oluwayemi.
The Stones came back quickly for more and Bivesh Gurung was denied by a combination of blocks and goalkeeper which resulted in a goalmouth scramble but none of the Stones players could squeeze the ball over the line which eventually came to Chelmsford clearing their lines.
Chances kept coming and going for Maidstone and Amantchi will have been disappointed not to have doubled his tally for the night as he saw a one on one firstly denied by Oluwayemi’s chest before blasting over at the second attempt.
Having played 48 hours ago, you could see that the players were understandably starting to tire but they kept digging for the last 20 minutes as Chelmsford threw more bodies forward but without really severely hurting the Stones defence. The three points were secured following five minutes of added time and that sees George Elokobi’s side move up to 2nd in the table.
Chelmsford City:
Maidstone United: Levi Amantchi 22’
Chelmsford City: 13. Joshua Oluwayemi, 2. Cameron James (C), 3. Ben Brookes, 11. Finley Barbrook, 12. Luke Jenkins, 14. Callum Jones (27. Kenny Coker 58 mins), 15. Jermaine Francis, 18. Ody Alfa, 19. Freddie Hockey (16. Charlie Ruff 58 mins), 25. Liam Vincent (9. Mo Bettamer 68 mins), 26. Henry Ochieng. Subs not used: 4. Anthony Wordsworth, 23. Callum Watts
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 5. George Fowler, 8. Sam Corne (C), 9. Sol Wanjau-Smith, 10. Lamar Reynolds (7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft 79 mins), 11. Devonte Aransibia, 14. Michael Petrasso (16. Liam Sole 34 mins), 15. Sam Bone, 17. Levi Amantchi (6. Harry Kyprianou 73 mins), 18. Bivesh Gurung, 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 19. Perri Iandolo.
