CHELMSFORD City boss Glenn Pennyfather says he is delighted that Colchester United have allowed left-back Ben Coker to remain on loan at the club for another month.

The 21-year-old – who the U’s signed from Suffolk non-league side Bury Town this summer – was loaned back to a higher level of non-league at the start of October in order to gain match experience.

He has made just three appearances for the Clarets so far, largely due to the fact he has been ineligible to play in the FA Cup – a competition which has dominated the Blue Square South side’s recent schedule.

U’s boss John Ward has now decided that – with Marc Tierney fit again following a shoulder injury and Bristol City loanee Tom Williams having signed a one-month extension – Coker can not only remain at Chelmsford for another month, but can also now play in their promising FA Cup campaign.

Colchester host League Two side Bradford City in the first round on Saturday, while step two non-league side Chelmsford welcome step three side Hendon (Ryman League Premier Division).

Clarets boss Glenn Pennyfather said: “I’m really, really pleased that we’ve been able to get Ben for another month.

“I was poised to sign him in the summer if his trial at Colchester hadn’t worked out, but once they were interested we obviously couldn’t compete.

“The first month we had him on loan Colchester were understandably reluctant to allow him to play in the cup and that restricted him to just three games – but in those three games he was magnificent and he has been a credit to himself and his parent club.

“He’s come from Bury Town and non-league so he knows what this level is all about and he’s got a fantastic attitude so I’m really pleased we’ll have him available on Saturday.”

Chelmsford missed the chance to go second in the Blue Square South on Monday night when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to St Albans City.

Defender Adam Tann joined a growing injury list after picking up a suspected broken cheek in that match, the Clarets already without captain Dave Rainford (hamstring) and striker Rob Edmans (groin) for this weekend’s FA Cup tie.

– For a full preview of both Colchester Utd v Bradford City and Chelmsford City v Hendon in the FA Cup first round, see Saturday’s Green’Un supplement in the EADT.