Chelmsford surrender unbeaten run to Meteors

Southend Meteors shone more brightly in this Essex Division 2 match at Anglia Ruskin Uni winning 3-1. Chelmsford’s man of the match, captain Gary Mower was unable to stem the consistent attack for the away side ably run by Southend setter and captain Mark Davies.

Coming into the match with both club teams undefeated this season it soon became clear that to retain this would be a tall order for coach Ken Edwards and the Chelmsford 2 squad. The starting six of Gary Mower and Richard Bohannan setting, Marcin Kawulski and Matt Ruffell middle attack with Kamilla Wawrzela and Alicia Hector outside attack made too many unforced errors early on, failing to serve over the net being the major fault. Although Southend themselves were settling in and did not get away they in turn attacked through Maria Abulkanova and the serving of Natalie Shultz were enough to have the edge taking the set 25-20.

Set two is one Chelmsford would do well to forget as their service receive was woeful. Although Chelmsford changed the line up bringing on Matt Brooks, Jamie Forrester and Steve Peacock who steadied the ship the 25-12 score line showed just how dominant the Meteors were at this stage of the game.

Juggling the line up again Chelmsford started the third set with the words of their coach ringing in their ears and responded. Peacock had a purple patch through the middle with Mower placing the bell well for him to crash the ball away. Chelmsford took the set 25-22 and looked back in the match as Southend were forced into time outs and substitutions in an effort to stay in touch.

The home side carried this momentum into set four and early on held an 8-1 lead behind Mower’s serve and some great work Ruffell who alone of the Chelmsford team seemed at the top of his game throughout. Alas it was not to last as the habit of giving away points returned to haunt the home team. Gradually Southend fought back and point by point caught up. Even the net cord favoured them and although the rallies were long, all to often when the ball hit the floor or flew out the back it was Southend that gained the point. Once they had levelled the scores at 19-19 there was a certain inevitability about how the match would end and so it did when the visitors took the last point at 25-20 ironically on yet another Chelmsford service fault.

Speaking later, coach Edwards commented "We really cannot expect to win games if we give so many points away. There were times when we looked good but only in patches whilst Southend played well throughout the game. I was particularly pleased at how Matt Ruffell kept up the standards for us and on the other side of the net Mark Davies and Natalie Schultz had good matches. We will need to improve if we are to stand a chance at the title as we have two hard matches against Brentwood teams to come, the first next Thursday against Bandits."