Our penultimate away trip of the normal season takes us to Essex where we’ll face The Clarets. 

 

The reverse fixture came over seven months ago, and United fans will be hoping for a repeat of the result and the weather this weekend. Liam Dulson’s first half volley and Josh Popoola’s last minute winner saw United take a 2-1 victory under the York Road sun. A fairly cagey opening half, with few clear-cut chances, needed a moment of quality to break the deadlock. Dulson was the provider, as he has so often been, volleying in from the edge of the area past a helpless Joe Haigh. The second half saw much of what you would expect, United pushing for a second and City hunting a leveller. It would again take until the closing stages of the 45, but this time Jack Barham would score and looked to have secured Chelmsford a point. Josh Popoola had other plans as he fired in his second attempt in the fourth minute of added time and it trickled past Haigh. 

 

There are more than a few who have played for both United and City, and a handful that may well feature tomorrow. The first of which is Charlee Adams, who is currently on loan at The Clarets from Hornchurch. Since joining on Boxing Day, Adams has appeared 19 times scoring once against Torquay United and assisting three times – all of which came just a game later against Bath City. Prior to his departure to The Urchins, the central midfielder spent three season with United where he played 114 times, notching 10 goals in that time. His most productive season as a Magpie, and of his career came in 2022/23 when he amassed eight contributions in front of goal. 

Another former Magpie we may see feature is Tristan Abrahams. Following his two-year spell with United, Tristan Berkshire for Hampshire and headed to Aldershot where he has since been loaned to City. In black and white stripes Tristan appeared 56 times, becoming more prominent in his second season. In which he’d score 13 of his 16 goals and collect all eight of his United assists. He joined Chelmsford in February and has featured nine times for them in the past three months, managing a single assist for Lyle Taylor against Enfield Town. 

 

Another to have featured for both and is a slightly more rogue one is Joshua Oluwayemi. The 25-year-old shot stopper joined United from Tottenham in 2020 appearing only twice in his short spell. He then joined Chelmsford in 2023 where he’d make more of an impact playing 22 times as he joined from Portsmouth. He has since left England to play for Wellington Pheonix in the A-League, having stopped off in Finland on the way where he represented FC Lahti. 

 

Chelmsford currently find themselves 11th in the table but are far from out of playoff contention just yet. Sitting with a game in hand, although against tough opposition in Hornchurch, The Clarets are only four points adrift with four to go. They come into the game off the bag of grabbing a last-gasp point at Dagenham & Redbridge in a thrilling three-all draw. City’s bagsman Lyle Taylor opened the scoring with his 28th of the season, before the Daggers scored three without response. But it sparked a late fight back as Harry Barbrook scored with two minutes left of normal time before 17-year-old Jett Murphy equalised on 97. 

 

A Bank Holiday Monday success sees United come into the game off of a victory against Hampton & Richmond. Josh Umerah’s double saw Maidenhead fight back from one down and a man down to win 2-1 on Retro Day. Jayden Mitchell-Lawson was twice provider as he was tripped by former Mag Alan Massey for a first-half spot kick before pressing relentlessly to win the ball and square to Umerah to complete the turnaround. 

 

 

From Maidenhead Station head to Paddington, from which walk to the Underground and the Elizabeth Line towards Shenfield and disembark at Stratford. At Stratford head back for the train and board a Greater Anglia service Chelmsford. Chelmsford Station is a 25-minute walk. Local bus routes stop near the stadium, with C2 Chelmsford Shuttles recommended towards Bloomfield Hospital. A seven-minute journey takes you to Melbourne Shops, which is then a seven-minute walk to The Dunmow Group Community Stadium. 

 

Travel by the M4 towards London, exiting at Junction 4B by Heathrow Airport onto the M25. Take the M25 for about 46 miles up to Junction 28 where you should merge onto the A12 and stay for nine miles. At Junction 15 join the A414 which take you pretty much straight into Chelmsford.  

 

Free limited parking is available on-site. Overflow parking is available nearby - signage will be in place on matchday. 

We expect this fixture WILL BE segregated. Tickets are available both online and on-the-gate using card, with a price rise on-the-day. 

 

 

Adult: £14 

Concession: £9 

Student (with valid ID): £4 

Youth: £4 

Under 12: FREE (with accompanying 18+ ticket) 

*A 4% booking fee is applied at the point of purchase 

 

 

Adult: £17 

Concession: £12 

Student (with valid ID): £6.50 

Youth: £6.50 

Under 12: FREE (with accompanying 18+ ticket)