CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chippenham Town 0 Swindon Supermarine 2 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chippenham Town 0 Swindon Supermarine 2

6:37pm Monday 9th April 2012 in News By Dan Barnes

Chippenham Town have now gone ten games without a win after they were beaten at home by local rivals Swindon Supermarine on Easter Monday.

The Bluebirds were outfought by their struggling counterparts, who moved out of the relegation zone with victory at Hardenhuish Park.

The visitors took the lead just seven minutes in when poor marking allowed striker Brad Gray to steal in at the near post and nod home from Ben Wells’ corner.

Chippenham carved out a great opportunity to level the scores three minutes later when a slick passing move saw Alan Griffin flick the ball into the path of Dave Gilroy.

The Bluebirds striker burst into the area and tried to round Marine keeper Grant Porter but his touch was too heavy and the chance went begging.

Midway through the half, the visitors’ Max Etheridge tested Jason Matthews with a shot from the edge of the area but clear cut chances were in short supply as Marine’s tenacious midfield set about stopping Chippenham from finding their rhythm.

The visitors were up in arms when Ashley Williams challenged keeper Porter after a storming solo run but referee Peter Lavelle issued the Bluebirds skipper a yellow card.

It wasn’t until the stroke of half-time that Adie Mings’ side threatened again, with Griffin’s scooped cross from the byline brushing against the crossbar before bouncing to safety.

The second period set into the same pattern as the first, with a dogged Marine putting all of their effort into holding on to their precious lead.

Luke Gullick blasted a shot not far over the bar from a cleared corner on the hour mark before Toby Osman smacked a volley not far wide shortly afterwards.

In the 81st minute, after another Chippenham corner, Gullick flashed a dangerous ball back across the face of goal but no-one was able to get the final touch.

Three minutes later, Marine’s Etheridge fired a sublime snapshot towards the top left-hand corner but Bluebirds keeper Matthews was equal to the strike and tipped acrobatically tipped over the bar.

But the three points would be going back up the M4 with the visitors when they were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute.

Former Chippenham man Ashley Edenborough was barged over the in the box by Nathan Rudge and Nick Stanley stepped up to fire home down the middle of the goal from the penalty spot.

Marine’s Etheridge had a fantastic chance to make it 3-0 just a minute later when he escaped the offside flag and raced towards goal but the striker got his finish all wrong and spooned his shot well wide of the target.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Jason Matthews, Toby Osman, Greg Tindle, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Nathan Rudge, Scott Lye, Ross Stearn, Dave Gilroy (Ben Wickens 63), Alan Griffin, Luke Gullick.

Subs not used: Alex Kite, Charlie Austin.

Attendance: 316