CHIPPENHAM Town are into the hat for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup after a last-gasp Omar Simpson goal saw the Bluebirds navigate a nervous tie against a determined Ardley United this afternoon.

The Bluebirds were welcomed out onto the pitch by Chippenham’s town crier and were finally left with something to shout about as substitute Simpson struck moments before the final whistle after the home side toiled in their efforts to break down their Hellenic League opponents.

Chippenham were first to threaten through Michael Pook, who drilled an effort just wide of the post after getting on the end of James Guthrie’s cross.

Moments later, Alex Ferguson laid the ball off for Jordan Roberts to flash a strike across the face of goal before Luke Ballinger handed Ardley goalkeeper Jack Harding an early tester with an attempt from just outside the area.

At the other end, the visitors’ Ollie Stanbridge sliced a pot-shot wide of the mark before Chippenham went close to opening the scoring just past the half-hour mark.

Roberts got in down the left flank and slid in a perfectly-weighted low cross towards the foot of Ferguson, who couldn’t turn the ball into the net under the attentions of goalie Harding.

A smart corner saw Guthrie pick out the arriving Ballinger outside the area but his thumping strike cannoned into the body of Beeden before another clever set-piece, involving Pook, Roberts and Ferguson, ended with the ball being laid off to Guthrie, who smashed not far wide of the target.

The home side continued to dominate possession as they looked to break down Ardley but with the linesman’s flag frustrating the Bluebirds on multiple occasions late in the half, the two teams went into half-time level at 0-0.

Four minutes after the break, Ballinger found himself in on goal as a long ball from Kent Kauppinen flew all the way through the heart of the visitors but the Chippenham man was charged down by Harding.

The United goalkeeper then made a superb save from the resultant corner, with Ferguson volleying goalwards only for Harding to superbly claw the effort to safety.

The Bluebirds worked another opening shortly afterwards, with Pook side-footing wide from Ballinger’s lay-off before the hosts passed up another opportunity, with Ferguson heading Guthrie’s pinpoint cross wide of the far post from a great position.

Chippenham’s Ballinger nodded over from another Guthrie delivery before, with 63 minutes on the clock, Ardley caused chaos in the Bluebirds area from a corner kick, forcing Conor McCormack to head away off the line.

Moments later, the visitors were handed the chance to deal a body blow to Mark Collier’s men as Luke Ingram was tripped by the outstretching Guthrie, with referee Lee Sheridan pointing straight to the penalty spot.

Midfielder Callum Convey took the spot-kick but Kauppinen dived to his left to pull off a superb save and spare Chippenham’s blushes.

Seemingly unflustered by their penalty miss, Ardley went close yet again shortly afterwards, with Ingram’s volley looping on to the roof of the net with keeper Kauppinen off his line.

After the Bluebirds settled back down, substitute George Pawley headed into the hands of Harding from a Pook cross whilst at the other end, United’s Danny Bone curled wide of the top corner.

But with less than minutes to go and fans at Hardenhuish Park plotting for a potential trip to Oxfordshire for a replay, Simpson got on the end of a long free-kick forward, turned his marker, and toe-poked past Harding to finally break the deadlock and secure Chippenham’s progress.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Conor McCormack, Jon Beeden, Bryan Smith, Greg Tindle (C), Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson (George Pawley 57), Jordan Roberts, Michael Pook (Toby Osman 85), Luke Ballinger (Omar Simpson 67), James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Iain Harvey, Lewis Porter.

Attendance: 256

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