CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Mings reflects on unforgettable Cambridge clash (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Mings reflects on unforgettable Cambridge clash

9:00am Sunday 22nd January 2012 in News By Dan Barnes

Chippenham Town manager Adie Mings thought that his side got the very least they deserved from Saturday’s dramatic draw with Cambridge City at Hardenhuish Park.

In an incident-laden clash, the Bluebirds needed a late Dave Gilroy equaliser to rescue a point after Cambridge took a 2-1 lead by shooting past injured keeper Kevin Sawyer.

Mings was indifferent about the controversial City goal and said: “There’s two ways you can look at it – there’s the etiquette of the game, sportsmanship or whatever you want to bring in to it when you see someone down injured but again, they feel within their rights to play on.

“There’s nothing else you can do and it’s up to the ref to analyse the situation.”

Mings added: “In the second half, there was only ever going to be one team that was going to win it.

“The wind spoiled it in the first-half and we kept giving away cheap free-kicks but we knew we could get after them in the second-half.

“We missed some gilt-edged chances but we’d have been disappointed not to have taken something from the game.

“We’ve got to take the positives out of it and go again next week.”

Mings also aired his dismay at the broken leg that striker Lewis Powell suffered in the opening minute.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to Poweller - he's been playing well and getting his goals and it's just bad luck for the kid," he said.

On Wednesday night, the Bluebirds meet Swindon Supermarine in the second leg of their Wiltshire Premier Shield semi-final and make an unlikely attempt at overturning an 8-1 aggregate deficit.

The Chippenham boss confirmed that he will use the tie to give some of his players some much-needed game time and admitted that the competition held little importance for his team ahead of their clash with play-off chasing rivals Leamington next weekend.

“The competition has become farcical with Swindon (Town) allowed to pull out automatically and just pay the fine,” said Mings.

“We’d have been more than happy to forfeit the game but I was told that we’d have to pay £400.

“We’ll just go there and use the game as best we can.”