- Hemel's home record is good when they click, but the Tudors will be missing top scorer Millar Matthews-Lewis this season.
- Chelmsford were a mid-table team in 2025/26 National League South and will have to prove they can do better to make the play-offs this time around.
A cagey opener on the cards at Vauxhall Road
Chelmsford edged the last clash 1-0 away from home in February 2026.
There could be some surprises on display at Vauxhall Road, however, both Lee Bircham and Mark Cooper have well-defined philosophies and a clear idea of what they want their teams to be.
Hemel's style will be fast, direct and very transition-based while Chelmsford will look to line up with a more fluid back four or back five, build the play patiently and utilise the width of their wing-backs.
Hemel have more of the firepower
Hemel finished fifth in the 2025/26 National League South season inside the top-seven, so they are used to playing and beating the best sides in the division. Lee Bircham has brought an organised, pragmatic approach to the club which will see them sit compact and try to pinch goals on the break.
Michael Johnson is their rock at the heart of defence, while Kyle Ajayi is an imposing leader at centre-back. The loss of Matthews-Lewis will hit them, but Remaye Campbell and Amir Hadi came in during the summer and could provide a similar threat.
Chelmsford were mid-table in 2025/26 and will need to show more to make the top-seven this time around. Mark Cooper's pre-season has been encouraging, but also a little uneven as they started brightly with a win and a draw before losing 2-1 to Witham Town in mid-July.
The Essex club have rotated the squad a lot and tried out a few trialists, so the side will be a bit raw for this opener. Denzel Olopade has already popped up in pre-season as an early threat, while Jack Barham and Lyle Taylor have the quality to cause problems if selected.
Hemel have the edge in a tight game
Hemel should get the edge in a cagey affair if they are the fitter and sharper of the two sides and the warm conditions should help them late on. However, the draw is a very live possibility and the market makes no sense with the Tudors at 11/10, Chelmsford 39/20 and the draw 51/20, so we're going with a very tight contest.
Both teams to score and under 2.5 goals looks the best play in this National League South 2026-2027 opener and we are taking the hosts to sneak it by a goal to nil in the correct score market.
