Play off hopes kept alive by single goal

7:46pm Saturday 21st April 2007

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Chippenham Town 1 Cheshunt 0

Chippenham Town kept their slight play off hopes alive with a narrow win over a poor Cheshunt side.

Kye Holly was dropped in favour of Charlie Knight as Ian Herring took his place in defence, replacing Kes Metitiri who has returned to Team Bath after his loan spell ended.

Player of the season Kevin Halliday gave the Bluebirds a three minute lead as he curled in a free kick from 30 yards as everyone missed his floated centre.

It was the defender's first goal for the club, coming in his last game as he misses next week's crucial trip to Hemel Hempstead through suspension.

The Bluebirds continued to press and Dave Gilroy volleyed onto the roof of the net when Ross Adams' deep free kick landed in the area.

Chippenham had started positively, knowing theymust win, and almost doubled their lead on 13 minutes.

Gilroy and Alan Griffin then linked up well and the latter fed Charlie Knight whose rising drive was well saved by Martin Peat in the visitor's goal.

Cheshunt, still looking over their shoulders in the relegation battle, offered nothing and Adams should have underlined the host's dominance but headed his free header from Halliday's free kick over.

Despite Bluebirds pressure they could add to their tally and Knight flashed a shot wide six minutes after the break before Gilroy should have put the result beyond doubt just before the hour.

Iain Harvey won a drop ball which set Gilroy racing in on goal, but as he pulled the trigger he completely missed his kick, ending up in a crumpled heap on the floor.

The game was becoming increasingly scrappy as teams squared up to each other following Steve Obeng's robust challenge on Halliday.

With 20 minutes left Cheshunt striker Dwayne Clarke needlessly lashed out at Ian Herring with his elbow but referee Ian Hamilton inexplicably missed the offence.

Gilroy lobbed into Peat's arms after a good move involving Sam Allison and Griffin as Chippenham struggled to make any impact upfront.

In the ten minutes of injury time official Hamilton somehow deemed appropriate, Simon Peddie finally forced Chris Snoddy into an easy save.

Boss Adie Mings was pleased with his side's application, even if results went against them as promotion rivals Halesowen, Hemel Hempstead and Maidenhead all won.

"The lads were never going to be able to play at the tempo because of the pitch, but I asked for a good start, a fast start, and where we didn't get the early goal last week at King's Lynn, we've had a chance and gone on to dominate the game," said manager Adie Mings.

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Adams, Halliday, Herring, Stanley, Harvey (capt), Allison, Badman, Gilroy (Holly, 87) Griffin, Knight (Etheridge, 90)