FA Cup: Ashford Town (Middlesex) 1 - 0 Chippenham Town

7:23pm Saturday 11th October 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Chippenham’s FA Cup dream has ended after a 1-0 defeat away at Ashford Town (Middlesex) this afternoon.

The Bluebirds provided a shock in the last round when they eliminated big-spending Truro City but poor finishing meant they were unable to progress past the Ryman Premier league side.

After an even opening period, the hosts scored the game’s decisive goal in the 17th minute. Chippenham midfielder Marc Richards’ sloppy pass on the half way line gave the ball to the impressive Ricky Wellard, who made a beeline for the visitor’s penalty area.

A slick pass found the lively Scott Harris whose shot was too powerful for the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Chris Snoddy and went in off the post.

Ashford looked comfortable in possession for the rest of the first half with Chippenham struggling to create meaningful chances.

This changed on the stroke of half time when good work from Luke Gullick allowed David Pratt to find space six yards in front of goal. His low shot seemed destined to level the scores but a fine save from Ashford’s Craig Ross turned it round the post to deny the away side.

A minute later, a Kye Holly inswinging free kick from deep eluded everyone in the Ashford area including the diving Richards who had lost his marker and was inches from equalising.

Bluebirds boss Adie Mings made changes at half time when he replaced debutant Aaron Ledgister with Jake Gardener and switched to a five man midfield.

The switch almost bore immediate dividends just after the restart but, with the keeper stranded, Richards’ powerful shot was headed over by an Ashford defender on the goal line.

The hosts looked dangerous on the counter attack with tricky midfielder Paul Johnson a constant threat.

Richards may feel he could have single-handedly won the tie for his side but again was denied in the 80th minute when Cortez Belle found the tenacious midfielder 12 yards from goal, only for his shot to blaze over the bar.

With time running out, Mings threw caution to the wind by throwing on substitute forward Sean Seavill and urging his team forward at every opportunity.

While the effort was never lacking, it was not to be the Bluebirds’ day and when Ashford keeper Ross made a diving catch in the 94th minute, their exit from the historic competition was confirmed.

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Adams, Halliday (c), Williams, Belle, Richards (Seavill), Ledgister (Gardener), Holly, Pratt, Allison, Gullick.