A PENALTY on the stroke of half-time handed Chelmsford City the points against Bath City.

The Clarets missed a host of chances as they scraped past 10 man Bath, Robbie Cundy seeing red two minutes before the break for pulling down Rhys Murphy, who scored the subsequent penalty.

Despite threatening to score many more throughout the second half, the Clarets spurned chances to stretch their advantage and had to hold off late pressure from Bath to prevent the equaliser.

Jai Reason and Tom Wraight came close before Cundy pulled down Murphy inside the penalty area. Murphy sent the spot kick into the bottom corner to put the Clarets ahead.

Chances came and went for both teams but Chelmsford held on.

Chelmsford City: McDonald, Anderson, Barnum-Bobb, Omozusi, Swaine, Wraight, Whelpdale, Church, Reason (Miles 67’), Porter, Murphy