CHELMSFORD City head coach, Glenn Pennyfather remained unconcerned with the 0-2 scoreline after City opened their 2009/10 campaign with a pre-season defeat, preferring to praise the team's fitness, sharpness and attitude as goals from Andrew Wood and Russell Short handed Suffolk side Bury Town an early victory.

Football: Chelmsford City head coach, Glenn Pennyfather remained unconcerned with the 0-2 scoreline after City opened their 2009/10 campaign with a pre-season defeat, preferring to praise the team's fitness, sharpness and attitude as goals from Andrew Wood and Russell Short handed Suffolk side Bury Town an early victory.

With a number of key figures still to take the field for Chelmsford in forthcoming run-outs, the Clarets' boss explained: “It was a good workout for us as the first game is always about fitness as far as I'm concerned. Our work ethic was good, as were our fitness, sharpness and attitude. The lads gave me everything like they have been in training and that was with a number of players missing and still to come back in.”

The first half was largely uneventful, a number of half-chances being exchanged between the two sides. City's Danny Hockton was involved of the clearest of these as he lobbed the home goalkeeper to no avail. Bury did move in front, however, in the 40th minute when some defensive hesitancy and an error from trialist goalkeeper Chris Elad gifted Wood an open goal which he gratefully capitalised on despite the best efforts of Steve Ward to track back and clear off the line.

Town proved the most clinical five minutes from the end as Chelmsford were caught with the ball and Short, with time on his side, was able to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box.