Carlin Itonga came off the bench to score the goal that extended City’s unbeaten run to seven games as the points were shared in this scrappy local derby played out on a hard and bumpy New Lodge pitch.

‘Flu victim Lewis Baillie returned to the Lilywhites starting line-up along with the previously suspended James Quilter. Stuart Niven, after coming on as a substitute last Saturday, retained his place, Shane Wardley, Matt Rice and Jamie Godbold the respective players to miss out.

As has been the trend of late City were slow out of the blocks and it nearly cost them a goal on eight minutes. From wide on the right Pat Gavin headed the ball inside for Garry Cross who in turn played in Matt Jones down the inside left channel. The newly appointed player/coach spotted Alan Calton off his line a sent a dipping, curling lob narrowly over the bar.

The Lilywhites looked anything but comfortable with the conditions and the Clarets seized the initiative by opening the scoring in their next meaningful attack. Steve Butterworth held off Lewis Baillie wide on the right hand side and made himself enough space to send a left footed cross arrowing towards the six yard box. Former Kettering marksman Dale Watkins was first to react stealing a yard on a static City back line to rise and plant a powerful header wide of Alan Calton’s despairing grasp.

Fortunately for the visitors Watkins lacked the striking support to capitalise on this early advantage allowing City to feel their way back into the contest. The Clarets had only held the lead for four minutes when Rob Nightingale fed Louis Riddle on the left, the former West Ham winger’s mazy run left Wes Faulkner well beaten but from an impossible angle his low centre was beaten away by Paul Nicholls in the home goal. Moments later a good passing move featuring Baillie and Nightingale saw the ball worked wide to the right for Rob Miller to centre for Robbie Simpson but the teenage striker completely missed his kick when well placed to work Nicholls. Riddle was making inroads down the left and with the game barely 20 minutes old he got free again and laid the ball into the feet of Simpson who, in turn, set up Niven, but his shot from the left hand edge of the box soared high and wide of the target.

Whilst City were, at this stage, enjoying the lion’s share of possession Butterworth was proving to be the best outlet for the home side. With just over 30 minutes on the clock he again played in a dangerous centre from the right, finding Pat Gavin whose powerful downward header appeared to strike Lewis Baillie on the arm but referee Osborne waved away appeals for a penalty. City hit back immediately mounting an attack of their own down the right hand side. With Robbie Simpson in a dangerous position the Lilywhites’ top scorer whipped in a low cross. In a desperate attempt to avert the danger Russell Edwards’ thunderous clearance whistled inches over Paul Nicholls’ cross bar. From the resultant corner Rob Nightingale’s perfectly flighted centre found the head of skipper Lee Pluck who looked to have powered home an equaliser before Nicholls produced a superb reflex save to tip the ball over.

The remainder of the half produced little incident of note other than a dangerously high tackle by Garry Cross on Lewis Baillie which rightly earned the former Southend midfielder a yellow card.

With City looking to get back on terms after the interval Niven sent a steepling centre deep into Chelmsford territory having picked up the ball from Craig Pope. Nicholls spilled the ball under pressure from Bloomfield but the Clarets had enough defenders on hand to clear to safety.

Goal scorer Dale Watkins became the second player to be cautioned on fifty five minutes when he caught Lee Pluck with a raised arm.

Chelmsford then had two chances in quick succession to score a second goal, which would, with nearly an hour gone, surely have proved decisive. Firstly Butterworth, who kept Baillie occupied throughout, muscled his way into the area from wide on the right, initially crowded out the ball broke back to him on the edge of the box but with a clear sight on goal he lifted his shot over the bar. In their next attack, neat build-up play by the Clarets saw Gavin angle a header into the path of Watkins wide on the left, his driven cross found Garry Cross at the near post but under pressure from Lee Pluck he saw his shot flash wide of goal.

With more than an hour gone Gary Roberts made a double change introducing Carlin Itonga and Jamie Godbold at the expense of Quilter and Niven, City switching to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation, Godbold taking up position wide on the right with Rob Miller moving inside to partner Rob Nightingale.

Steve Moseley made his own change just minutes later with George Lay replacing Matt Jones. Whether the thinking behind this move was to consolidate at 1-0 or push on for 2-0, the scores were level at 1-1 within 60 seconds of the substitution.

Robbie Simpson picked up the ball wide on the left and spotting the early run of Itonga angled a ground pass into the area. The physical presence of the former Arsenal striker clearly unsettled left-back Steve Norman who missed the opportunity to clear allowing Itonga to take the ball in, step to his right and slide his shot under Nicholls to the delight of the Lilywhites travelling contingent behind the goal.

With just under twenty minutes remaining Chelmsford had their best chance to snatch all three points. Lay, who had looked lively since his introduction, took on Craig Pope beating him on the outside and fired in a low near post cross which Gavin looked favourite to convert until Lewis Baillie, making remarkable ground, denied him with a brave, diving interception, injured in the process he almost certainly prevented what would arguably have been the winning goal. It was then the turn of dead ball specialist Norman to test Alan Calton with a free kick from 20 yards but the former Norwich City custodian was down well to his left to smother.

With both sides giving the impression that a point might not be a bad return George Lay burst clear of Rob Nightingale from a deep position and advanced menacingly towards the edge of the box. From the wrong side the City midfielder made an untidy challenge which rightly earned him a caution, however quite why a stand-off between several players ensued is unclear, the upshot was a further yellow card issued to Craig Pope.

Sensing that there was a chance to snatch victory Steve Mosely introduced Gary McGee and Liam Hopkins for Dale Watkins and Gareth Street respectively. For McGee it was his second appearance against City in just over a week having featured in the Lowestoft side that bowed out of the FA Cup at Milton Road.

Both sides had one more half-chance to snatch victory in the dying moments. Firstly Simpson played in another good angled ball across the area, which, much to the consternation of Nicholls, Norman failed to deal with but Jamie Godbold was just too far behind the play to capitalise. Then, as play switched to the other end McGee’s spiralling centre was bundled behind by the massed ranks of City defenders.

On the balance of play City will probably be happier with this point than their hosts who are still struggling to pull clear of the foot of the table. Gary Roberts will be pleased with the battling qualities shown by his team for whom Lewis Baillie was an imposing presence at the back and Rob Miller ran tirelessly in midfield.

City have two big games this week which could be hugely influential on their season as a whole. They will no doubt be pleased to get back to a Milton Road surface that will give them the opportunity to play the kind of passing football that was not possible today.