CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Osman loses out in brotherly duel (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Osman loses out in brotherly duel

1:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Sport By Dan Barnes

TOBY Osman was gutted to have lost the family bragging rights to twin brother Ben as Chippenham Town were knocked out of the Red Insure Cup by Paulton Rovers on Tuesday evening.

The Osman siblings were on opposite sides for only the second time in their careers but it was the Paulton man who came out on top, netting the visitors’ second goal before his free-kick led to Rovers’ third.

“The last time I played against Ben was for Salisbury Reserves and he was playing for Forest Green Reserves. I think that ended up in a draw but he’s got all the bragging rights this time because they’ve come out on top and he’s scored,” said the Bluebirds’ Osman.

“We did all our youth football together before going to academies and then we played together for the youth team and reserves of Exeter.

“It’s always been about the phone call after games to find out who’s scored or who’s done what to try and get one on top of the other. I’m never going to live this one down.”

Osman will miss this weekend’s showpiece FA Cup clash with Gloucester City after being sent off against Badshot Lea in the third qualifying round. He said: “I’m gutted not to be involved in it but the important thing is that, with the squad we’ve got, we’ve got a hell of a chance of going through.

“It’s probably one of the biggest games Chippenham have had – it’s going to be a hell of a game with a hell of an atmosphere.”

Paulton proved too strong for an experimental Chippenham line-up on Tuesday evening, the Bluebirds being dealt a blow ten minutes in when Lee Phillips was forced off with a groin injury.

James Billing touched in Craig Loxton’s cross to put the visitors ahead 20 minutes in and midway through the first period, they doubled their lead when Charlie Rich squared the ball for Osman to fire under Chippenham keeper Ben John.

The Bluebirds’ Clayton Fortune had a goal ruled out for a foul on Rovers’ goalie Kyle Phillips in the second period while, in the 79th minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Ben Macey went down under the challenge of Shane Blackmore.

But John showed great agility to claw away Loxton’s low spot kick.

Paulton did make it 3-0 shortly afterwards when Osman’s whipped free-kick from the right flank deflected in off an unfortunate Chippenham defender.