CHELMSFORD CITY 2 DORCHESTER TOWN 1 DORCHESTER will consider themselves unlucky to return empty-handed after an incident-packed match at Melbourne Park.

The hosts missed a penalty and had a goal disallowed, both sides hit the woodwork, Dorchester’s Mark Jermyn was sent off for a second bookable offence and all three goals were scored by players in new surroundings.

Sam Sloma grabbed both City goals to mark an impressive home debut while Steve Hutchings, who is on work experience from AFC Bournemouth, also caught the eye on his first appearance for the Magpies.

He added some vital physical presence to the frontline in the absence of the injured Ryan Moss and latched on to a through ball from Jermyn before coolly side-footing past the advancing keeper to temporarily draw his team level.

Hutchings nearly made an instant impact but Roy O’Brien’s first minute long ball forward just carried too much weight and ran out for a City goal kick.

The lively Kevin James squared the ball to Dave Rainford who fired over from 25 yards before the former smashed a free-kick into the Dorchester wall.

Chelmsford keeper Danny Gay made his first save of the afternoon in the 11th minute when Gary Bowles crossed from the right for Hutchings to loop a header goalwards at the far post. Jermyn then sent a 20-yard snapshot wide.

City surged forward and visiting gloveman Gareth Stewart scooped up a dangerous centre from Ricky Holmes while from a James cross, debutant Lawrie Dudfield dived to head just wide.

Sloma then passed inside to Holmes whose shot from 18 yards swerved wide.

Hutchings though was proving a handful at the other end and Gay twice raced outside his area to successfully, if somewhat unconvincingly, prevent the burly 18-year-old striker breaking through on goal.

Two minutes before the interval, City were handed a golden opportunity to take control when for the first time in the match, the home side broke through the visiting defence.

Bowles tripped Oliver Berquez from behind to earn himself a booking and concede a penalty, which Rainford drilled wide.

In first half stoppage time Tom Clarke went close to giving the Magpies the lead when his close range strike cannoned out of play off the near post.

The match proved even livelier after the break.

A 48th minute, Nick Crittenden free-kick was headed clear but only to the unmarked Clarke who should have done better than drill his centre out of play.

At the other end, Holmes struck the foot of a post and although Dudfield netted the rebound, Dorchester were reprieved by the raised offside flag.

Stewart saved at his near post to deny Sloma but the former Grays Athletic midfielder managed to find the breakthrough for second-placed City when he was well-positioned to snap up the loose ball chance after a Holmes shot had rebounded to him on the 18-yard line.

However, the lead lasted barely five minutes before never-say-die Dorchester equalised.

A long ball out of defence proved inch-perfect for Hutchings who raced forward before skilfully passing the ball into the net as Gay came off his line.

For a while City looked stunned. Mitchell Nicholson had one shot charged down and the follow up saved by Gay before Dorchester forced three corners in two minutes.

And when Hutchings found Nicholson unmarked 12 yards from goal, and five minutes from time, the young Australian wasted a glorious chance to fire his side in front when he hoisted his shot just over the crossbar.

That miss seemed to spur City into renewed efforts and two minutes later they carved out the winner.

O’Brien had pulled off a last-ditch tackle to deny substitute Jason Hallett a shooting chance. Hallett then had a header saved by Stewart but when Holmes fired across an 87th minute corner, substitute Jon Keeling’s effort was only half-cleared and the lurking Sloma found the top corner with a fierce 18-yard drive to send home fans into wild celebrations.

Dorchester piled forward looking for a second equaliser and from Crittenden’s centre, Nicholson glanced a header wide.

The Magpies were then reduced to 10 men when Jermyn, who had already been booked, reacted badly to a foul by substitute Chris Moore and was shown a second yellow card. Moore was also cautioned.

Acting Dorchester boss Brian O’Donnell replaced Nicholson with Darren Watts for the four minutes of stoppage time and after a further two minutes, the visitors had a strong penalty appeal waved aside when it appeared that a powerful Watts strike was blocked by a defender’s hand. But City held on.

Chelmsford: Gay, Okay, Sloma, Duncan, Cousins, Rainford (Moore 81), Berquez, Minton, Dudfield (Hallett 81), James (Keeling 57), Holmes. Subs not used: Duffy, Harrison.

Dorchester: Stewart, Bowles, Smeeton, Jermyn, O’Brien, Hill, Crittenden, Nicholson (Watts 90), Hutchings, Clarke, Gleeson. Subs not used: Critchel, Taylor, Johnson, Coward.