Chippenham hit top form in Wiltshire derby

5:20pm Wednesday 15th October 2008

North Wilts 2, Chippenham 6

CHIPPENHAM continued their winning ways with this comprehensive victory. For the first time this season, Chippenham hit top form against a physical home team and were quickly into their stride, maintaining possession and frustrating their hosts.

Chippenham took the lead when a pass from Heartford was collected by Luke Morris and he slipped behind the defender to win a short corner. Stonham slipped the ball to the waiting Mark Knight whose accurate flick went over the goalkeeper and into the roof.

Chippenham were able to deal with North Wilts attacks but when they did break through sweeper Darren Bean was impressive for Chippenham and kept the ball away from the D.

Upping the pace brought rewards for Chippenham. After winning another short corner, the ball was slipped to Alex Thomas who unleashed an reverse stick shot into the bottom corner to double the lead.

With confidence high, Chippenham pressed forward but North Wilts broke down the right catching the visitors. The initial shot for North Wilts looked like it was going wide but an unmarked player was on hand to finish on the far post and reduce the lead at the break.

A fast moving opening ten minutes to the second half effectively sealed the game and the points for Chippenham. Thomas claimed his second goal with a dramatic strike into the roof of the net from close range after Knight’s short corner flick was well saved.

N Wilts were awarded a penalty flick after Chippenham goalkeeper Howard Simons brought down the forward and which also earned him five minutes in the sin-bin. North Wilts converted to reduce the deficit to one goal.

They drove forward but Chippenham’s defensive line of Stonham, Ward and Bean kept their nerve.

When Chippenham moved the ball out of defence, Chris Sampson picked out Knight on the edge of the D and he squared the ball to the on rushing Heartford whose 80 yard run ended with a diving finish into an empty net.

That finally broke the home side and with Chippenham back to full strength, they were able to close out the game. Further goals came from Price and Knight.

Wootton Bassett 0, Chippenham B 4

CHIPPENHAM kept a clean sheet and continued their winning ways with this derby win.

They used the width of the pitch, with Andy Edwards, Dewi Evans and Dave Lloyd feeding the ball through to Sam Copeland, Neil Stewart and Sean Sutton playing up front, but despite having the majority of possession, Chippenham became increasingly frustrated that this did not lead to goals.

Bassett mounted several breakaway attacks, playing the ball through the middle to try and release their young players, but Chippenham right back Gary Green, who was making his debut, and youngster Tom Bowrey kept pace with them and allowed veteran defender Mark Grantham to clean up as required.

Chippenham came out the stronger side after the break, with an early goal from Evans, who picked up the ball at close range from a short corner routine. This was quickly followed by a second goal from Dave Stewart. A quick ball down the line was taken around the back by Copeland who laid the ball back for Stewart to push it through a helpless defence.

With Chippenham now in control, further goals came from Neil Stewart, driving the ball from the top of the D after another short corner, and Copeland, with a through ball through a crowded defence.

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