A quite remarkable day saw 10-man Staines lose a 10-goal thriller at league leaders Chelmsford City on Saturday, writes Steve Parsons.

Staines' problems started when a major motorway crash log-jammed all approaches to Chelmsford, causing many Staines players - and the referee - to arrive late.

A big crowd had assembled, but a 25-minute delay was negotiated, despite City's understandable wish to get going, owing to a club dinner and the England game on TV later that evening.

With Adam Thompson failing a fitness test, Steve Cordery was desperately short at the back, and so started with his 10 available and fully fit senior players, in the hope that Dave Sargent would arrive soon.

Defending the hammer net (entrance) end in the first half, Staines tried to retain possession while short handed, but they collected a caution for a foul by Darren Campbell on ex-Staines player Fiston Manuella after only 6 minutes. However, the crowd of over 1,000 was stunned into silence when the visitors went ahead on 15 minutes, as Dean Thomas played a dangerous low ball in from the left, and before Ali Chaaban could get to it, defender Jay Conroy intercepted - only to push the ball into his own goal.

City did not take that lying down, and Kezie Ibe curled a shot inches wide soon afterwards, before Ricky Holmes equalised on 20 minutes after receiving from Manuella and shooting under Shaun Allaway's dive.

Sargent finally made it through the traffic to enter the pitch on 25 minutes, and seconds later he set up a chance for Mark Nwokeji which was pushed for a corner.

Staines' time with a full quota lasted only eight minutes, though, as a cross was swung in from City's right, and André Scarlett (who used to play for them) used a hand to push it against the crossbar, under pressure from Ibe.

Despite the Staines man's claims that Ibe had pushed him, he was dismissed, and Lee Boylan made no mistake from the resulting penalty. City moved further ahead just two minutes later, as a good solo run by Holmes ended with him shooting against the post, and as Allaway turned, Ibe nipped in behind to score a simple goal.

This was a torrid period for the visitors, as Matt Flitter had to head a Holmes effort off the line, and Boylan headed against the post following a disputed corner.

The second half began just as badly, with Ibe bagging his second on 48 minutes, after Kevin Warner had blocked a speculative shot on the line, but was dispossessed before he could effect the clearance.

At this stage, it looked like it would just be question of how many Chelmsford would score, but to their credit, Staines then took the game to their opponents for a spell.

Mark Nwokeji made a great run down the left and crossed to Chaaban, who applied a great first touch but shot against the post; the same player drew a good save from Ashley Harrison a minute later.

However, the roles were reversed on 55 minutes, Chaaban finding Nwokeji with a quick free kick, and he turned and beat Harrison at the near post.

At 4-2, the home side experienced quite a wobble, playing for time, and bringing on a sub.

However, their nerves were settled with a fifth goal, Spencer Knight receiving an unpromising pass from Holmes but squeezing it past Allaway from a tight angle on 58 minutes.

But Staines would not lie down, and came back to 5-3 just 4 minutes later, when Harrison could only parry Campbell's shot, and Nwokeji snapped up his second of the afternoon.

But hopes of a comeback were killed off once and for all by Ibe's hat-trick goal on 64 minutes, curling a superb shot into the far corner. Academy boy Jermaine McGlashan was thrown in at the deep end, coming on for his senior début in place of Campbell, and he looked lively and enthusiastic.

But City had the last laugh, becoming the first side to put seven past Swans since Walton four years ago: Holmes made hay down the right, and spanking an 81st minute shot just under Allaway's crossbar.

Ibe picked up a late caution for a tackle which sent McGlashan flying through the air, but it did not detract from his man-of-the-match performance.

Another youngster, Jordan Kiffin, emerged from the bench as a very late sub for Staines, who remain in 12th spot.

Staines - Allaway; J Newton, Campbell (McGlashan 71), Sargent, Flitter , Scarlett, K Warner, Risbridger, Thomas (J Kiffin 88), Nwokeji, Chaaban; unused Maskell, Ventour, Thompson.

Chelmsford - Harrison; Conroy, Knight, Chenery (c), Glover (Clarke 56), Manuella, Ainsley, Duffy, Ibe, Boylan (Hallett 74), Holmes (Minton 83); unused Nugent, McKinney.

Ref - Stephen A Child (Beckenham, Kent); Assts Andrew Langsdon & Mark Davidson (both Essex).