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Essex Conference A Southend Comets lost to Chelmsford 1 0-3. Set scores 19-25, 14-25, 19-25 Chelmsford rule at Southend Chelmsford’s first team had a good win at Southend in their latest Essex Conference A encounter taking a 3-0 win. The individual set scores suggested it was an easy outing but in fact this was a hard fought game where the visitors were never in complete command. Player of the match Laszlo Maklary led the Chelmsford attack where the whole side played well. This match lived up to its promise as a close one between two evenly matched teams and the vocal Southend crowd were much in evidence throughout. Chelmsford kept true to their first choice line up throughout the game with John Hill (captain) and Paul Bohannan (coach) setting, Steve Peacock and Anash Vora middle attack and Stuart Fairley plus Maklary the power outside hitters. Southend shuffled the pack for each set but their stand out players ex England cadet Tim Reynolds and setter Blas were the basis for the team. In set one each side tried to use power but the defensive work was excellent with Maklary for Chelmsford and Frith for Southend often the deciding factors. Southend surrendered an early 5-2 lead as the all round defensive play of the visitors denied them the points. Vora found his rhythm with float serving to take Chelmsford to 19-13 and they held on to that advantage through to the end taking the set 25-19. Set two again started well for Southend as Reynolds blasted the ball cross court but Chelmsford were now beginning to block the Southend attacks with Peacock and Vora reading Blas’s setting so forming a high wall that the home team often could not penetrate. With the first ball improving yet further they were rewarded by Hill setting the quick middle hit for the Chelmsford attack, with one memorable fast ball which Vora tipped gently into space as the home defence stood flat footed. Although Southend rallied in the final stages, Chelmsford were by then safe taking the set 25-14. If Chelmsford thought it was job done, Southend raised their game in set three cutting out the odd error that had thwarted their ambitions in the last two sets. They held at handy 6-3 lead before Chelmsford got back on song again with Maklary leading the attack line. But it was often the behind the scenes defensive work that laid the foundation for the points and Fairley seemed to be everywhere on court to recover the ball either off an opponents’ hit or more usually a ball just got up by a colleague turned into a set that Maklary and others could attack. Peacock too was strong and in another excellent rally was forced into a setting role twice in a row to good effect. He had obviously no ill effects form the late Saturday night celebrating ‘a significant birthday’ the previous night. By 14-14 Chelmsford were level and they relentlessly fought on to take the set 25-19 and match 3-0. Speaking afterwards coach Bohannan said ‘This was a good team game and everyone did their bit helping out. We were never in full control and Southend were always in the game. Perhaps if a few net cords had gone the other way, the result could have been closer or even gone the other way. Anyway, we will take the points and look to do the same in the return on home court in two weeks’ Chelmsford players are next on court in Kettering on Easter Monday when several will turn out for Essex Pirates Sitting Volleyball team. A Paralympic version of the sport, Volleyball England’s Grand Prix series permits teams to include men, women players with or without disability to play in this inclusive version. Essex Pirates are still looking for more players with physical disability to build up the squad and any interested parties are encouraged to contact Ken Edwards on 01245 474425 ken.edwards@volleyball.co.uk for more information. |