Stringer Won't Rule City Out Of Title Running Just Yet

Chelmsford City manager Rod Stringer refused to rule his team out of the National League South title race last night.

Despite defeat at Hemel Hempstead leaving the Clarets seventh - and eight points adrift of leaders Dartford - he says a strong run is still possible.

Stringer was not at all happy with the manner of defeat at Vauxhall Road, in particular the opening goal which game from a penalty awarded after City defender Mark Haines was adjudged to have brought down Will Hoskins.

The decision left the Melbourne manager aggrieved but he refuses to wave the white flag.

“Have we got a chance to mathematically win the league, yes of course. Can we put a run together? Why not? But the bottom line is we’re making it harder for ourselves every week that we’re dropping points.

“I thought we were the better side in the first 20 minutes before the decision to award the penalty and we were the better side in the second half. It was never a penalty in a million years.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks about the scoreline, the first goal and that decision was a major, major, major player in how the game went.”

Stringer was forced to watch the second half from the tunnel but says it was he who originally removed himself from the technical area.

“It’s a very poor result,” he added. “I have never had a problem being beat, it’s how you get beat. It’s been a perfect night for Hemel, but it’s a bad night for the linesman.

“I have jumped over the wall as I couldn’t listen to their excuse for giving the penalty. I’ve jumped back over when I have calmed down and he’s sent me off!”

City play Hampton & RB this weekend as they look to get their push for promotion back on track.

Where next?

The Numbers Game: Stats From The National League The Vanarama National League hasn’t disappointed this season, providing us with three extremely competitive divisions we can’t take our eyes off.
New Dates Are Announced Across The Divisions The National League can this afternoon announce a number of rearrangements following recent postponements.

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