CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chippenham Town 1 Bashley 0 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chippenham Town 1 Bashley 0

10:41pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Sport By Dan Barnes

Dean Griffiths scored his first Chippenham Town goal as the Bluebirds battled their way back to winning ways against Bashley earlier tonight.

Griffiths’ strike with just under ten minutes to go was the difference while manager Nathan Rudge made his return to playing action in the centre of defence.

The encounter began at breakneck speed, with both sides displaying a fantastic work-rate but despite the frantic nature of the match, neither side could muster an effort on target in the first 45 minutes.

It took 25 minutes for the first real opening to be fashioned and it came from Chippenham as Scott Lye played the ball to Alan Griffin, who cut inside before firing a low shot wide.

Griffin had a header loop harmlessly on to the roof of the net 37 minutes in and just before half-time, debutant Tyrone Mings played a one-two with the Bluebirds striker and powered a ball across the danger area.

The Bluebirds almost went ahead just two minutes after the break when Lee Phillips fired a speculative effort goalwards on the volley but his shot looped just wide of the target.

The visitors finally threatened 62 minutes in when substitute Ian Oliver crossed for midfielder Brad Strickland to fire across the face of goal before, at the other end, Luke Ballinger drew a brilliant reaction save from Bashley goalkeeper Stewart Kearn.

A minute later, Ballinger fired over from a tight angle before Griffin nodded inches over the bar from Brandon Barnes’ corner.

Midway through the half, Chippenham saw two big chances go missing.

First, Lye cut the ball back from the byline for Ballinger to draw another smart save from Kearn before Ballinger then turned provider for substitute Griffiths, who just failed to put the final touch on his teasing cross.

Bluebirds goalie Conor Thompson had to beat away Mark Gamble’s free kick and then, in the 81st minute, Rudge’s men had their breakthrough.

Griffiths picked up the ball and drove towards goal, cutting onto his left foot and then back on to his right before powering a shot into the right of the net, leaving keeper Kearn flat-footed as the Chippenham striker netted his first for the club.

Lye fired a shot over shortly afterwards as the Bluebirds picked up a deserved three points.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Conor Thompson, Iain Harvey, Tyrone Mings, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Nathan Rudge, Luke Ballinger (Shaun Lamb 90+3), Brandon Barnes (Josh Egan 89), Alan Griffin, Scott Lye, Lee Phillips (Dean Griffiths 68).

Subs not used: Toby Osman, Alex Kite.

Attendance: 241