CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Mings buoyed by Bluebirds’ support (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Mings buoyed by Bluebirds’ support

3:00pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in News By Owen Houlihan

ADIE Mings has vowed to repay Chippenham Town’s board and supporters for the faith shown in him despite the club’s horrendous second half of the season.

The Hardenhuish Park chief admits his side’s shocking form – Saturday’s defeat meant the Bluebirds have won just once in 18 matches since the turn of the year – would have put many managers out of a job.

The spell has been the lowest point of Mings’ five-year reign, but he is determined to regroup this summer and return Town to their play-off challenging status next season.

“The club have been good to me. With the run we’ve been on the chairman (John Applegate) has been very good and so have the supporters,’’ said Mings.

“I’ve seen many a manager lose his job in similar circumstances but they recognise that, having been manager for five years, what has gone wrong has been a blip.

“They’ve shown a lot of loyalty towards me and it’s up to me to try and repay those people.

“That means everybody coming together and working hard in the summer.’’

Not even the carnival atmosphere created by the 31 members of the visiting Norwegian branch of the Bluebirds’ supporters’ club could halt Town’s slide.

The opening period saw the Bluebirds give as good as they got as Alan Griffin just failed to open the scoring when his lofted shot went over keeper Lewis Solly but landed on the roof of the net.

Ross Stearn’s cross was then smartly headed goalwards by Griffin but Solly pulled off a stunning save.

At the other end Kevin Sawyer, returning after a lengthy lay-off, was equally impressive as he first beat out Leon Broadhurst’s free kick before producing an excellent save to tip Jamie Oliver’s header onto the bar.

Unfortunately for Sawyer, he produced the best save of the match on 48 minutes only to be let down by his defence.

Sean Geddes’ free kick looked to be curling into the net until Sawyer threw himself across goal and pushed the ball onto the bar.

Sadly the visitors’ Oliver had anticipated events and he was left to head the loose ball into an empty net.

Worse was to follow for the Bluebirds 10 minutes later when Geddes’ corner found Sawyer back peddling and he appeared to tip the ball onto the angle of post and bar.

Oliver again netted only for the referee to disallow the effort for a foul. However one of his assistants claimed Geddes’ corner had crossed the line and the goal was awarded.

Chippenham could only create half chances until the first minute of stoppage time when Alex Kite was impeded in the area and Griffin’s low penalty gave Solly no chance, but it was too prove a mere consolation.

Chippenham: Sawyer, Harvey, Kite, Williams, Casey, Rudge (Randhawa 81), Lye, Stearn, Gullick (Gilroy 61), Griffin, Guthrie.

Sub not used: Matthews

Referee: David Ricketts

Yellow cards – Chippenham: Harvey; Stourbridge: Broadhurst, Oliver.

Attendance: 393.

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