Match Preview: Chelmsford City (A) - 7th February 2026

Photo courtesy of Fin Hall

By Josh Cole

After three consecutive matches postponed due to waterlogged pitches, The Stags will be hoping the weather allows us to travel to Chelmsford for some Enterprise National League South action!

In our last match on the 24^th of January we beat Dover 3-0 at home, you can recap what happened that day by clicking here and reading the match report.

CHELMSFORD CITY – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

Chelmsford are currently sat in 11^th place, three places above AFC Totton in the table. CLICK HERE to view the full league standings.

They opened 25/26 with a 1-0 win at home against Horsham and a 0-0 draw away at Weston-super-Mare. City lost for the first time in matchday three, a 1-0 away loss to Ebbsfleet but bounced back with a home win against Chippenham (2-1), a 0-0 draw away at Maidstone and a 2-1 win at home against Chesham.

But then, on a Monday night game at home, Chelmsford found themselves on the end of a 2-5 loss to Farnborough, and the next game after that was another loss, this time 2-1 away at Maidenhead. The FA Cup came around, and Chelmsford started in the best way possible, winning 6-0 in the second qualifying round, which they carried into a 0-1 away win at Bath in the league.

Another FA Cup win away at Alvechurch (1-2) put them one win away from the first-round proper, and they did manage to win and progress again with a 4-3 win against fellow NLS side, Chippenham. In between those two games was a 1-1 draw with Dorking.

In their last two matches before travelling to The Snows Stadium they lost at home (1-2) against Worthing and won on Tuesday night in the Essex Senior Cup against Halstead Town, 0-3.

After a 2-1 loss against us, they rounded off October with a 0-1 win away at Dover. November started off brilliantly for The Clarets, winning their first four games of the month, three in the league and a big 4-1 win against main rivals Braintree in the FA Cup.

Following those wins came two cup games which were decided by penalties, one game in the FA Trophy saw Chelmsford lose on pens against Hemel Hempstead, and then a few days later they beat Bowers & Pitsea on penalties in the Essex Senior Cup. They finished November with three league games and unfortunately, all three were losses.

December started off with two cup exits for Chelmsford, a 0-2 defeat at home against Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup second round proper and a 3-0 loss away at Great Wakering Rovers in the Essex Senior Cup. City’s league form in December was hit and miss, with two wins and two losses respectively.

2026 started off well for Chelmsford, with three wins out of their first three matches in the league in January, two of those against playoff opposition in Weston-super-Mare and Horsham, but in their last match before this fixture, did lose 5-0 away at Slough.

LAST FIVE: CHELMSFORD CITY

Vs Slough Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 5-0

Vs Tonbridge Angels | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Lyle Taylor 13’

Vs Horsham | Away | ENLS | Won 2-3

Goalscorers: Adam Crowther 10’ Harry Barbrook 86’ & Jamie Odegah 89’

Vs Weston-super-Mare | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Lyle Taylor 84’ (PEN)

Vs Dagenham & Redbridge | Home | ENLS | Lost 1-4

Goalscorer: Jason Adigun 44’

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Dover Athletic | Home | ENLS | Won 3-0

Goalscorers: Scott Rendell 27’, Luke Hallett 34’ & Tony Lee 49’

Vs Tonbridge Angels | Away | ENLS | Lost 4-1

Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 30’

Vs Enfield Town | Home | ENLS | Won 3-2

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 24’ 90+2’ & Ralph Vigrass 45+4’

Vs Chippenham Town | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Tony Lee 68’

Vs Salisbury | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-1

Goalscorer: Craig Tanner 47’

COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)

 
OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DEFENCE: KIAN RONAN

Kian Ronan joined the Clarets in June 2025, after a 2-year spell with Kings Lynn Town.

He reached the National League North playoffs last season, making 29 appearances and scoring 3 times.

Prior to his time with the Linnets, Ronan played in Gibraltar for Lincoln Red Imps. He picked up 3 consecutive Gibraltar Football League titles, as well as 3 other cup trophies.

His footballing career started with Ipswich Town, having worked his way through their youth setups, featuring in the FA Youth Cup. During his time with the Tractor Boys, he picked up non-league experience with Mildenhall Town and Leyton Athletic before his departure.

In between leaving Ipswich and playing for Lincoln Red Imps, Ronan played for Manchester 62, also in Gibraltar. His time with The Red Devils of Gibraltar saw him score 6 times in 13 appearances, as he was utilised as a makeshift striker.

MIDFIELD: JESURUN UCHEGBULAM

The 25-year-old is a tricky and skilful winger, and he joined Chelmsford after departing National League South rivals Eastbourne Borough.

Last season, Uchegbulam played in the National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium for former club Oldham Athletic and provided an assist in the Lactics’ win over Southend United.

He has also previously featured for Chesterfield and Rochdale, and he also played in the youth set up at AC Milan when he was younger.

ATTACK: LYLE TAYLOR

Lyle Taylor joined the Clarets in August 2025, after a season with Colchester United in League 2, where he was the U’s top scorer.

His career started out with Millwall, but he found some prolific goalscoring form with Concord Rangers. That resulted in a move to Bournemouth where he had loan spells in the National League South with Lewes and Woking.

He joined AFC Wimbledon in 2015, where he had his longest spell with one club. During his 3-year-stint Taylor netted over 50 times in over 150 games. He also helped the Dons get promoted to League 1, scoring the opener in the Playoff final.

After that he was promoted to the Championship with Charlton, and in his time, there scored 32 goals in 63 games but left to join Nottingham Forest after refusing to play in the final games of the 2020 season after the season restarted.

He made 57 appearances for Forest, scoring seven goals and he was released by Forest following their 2022–23 season, in which he made no appearances.

Since then, he had spells with Birmingham City, Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United before playing for Colchester United last season.

So far this season, the striker has netted 12 times in all competitions, including one in the 2-1 loss for Chelmsford at the Snows Stadium.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee - Samuel Read

Assistant Ref 1 - Alphie Ibrahim

Assistant Ref 2 - Bogdan Khimych

Fourth Official - Andrew Tregoning

GO STAGS