Chippenham Town 1, SWindon Supermarine 0 aet (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chippenham Town 1, SWindon Supermarine 0 aet

4:10pm Thursday 15th December 2005 in Football

Errea Southern League Cup: A ROCKET from Alan Griffin deep into extra time fired Chippenham into a fourth round tie with Team Bath.

With Southern League duties a huge priority, manager Darren Perrin made nine changes to the team that beat Yate Town on Saturday.

It is likely he will make a few more for the trip to Cirencester. The exception could be left winger Nick Stanley, who signed from the local rivals last week, after an entertaining debut down the flank on Tuesday night.

His quick feet, jinking runs and direct approach have rightly earned him the nickname Snakes, and he looks certain to provide the left-sided balance Perrin has been craving.

Teenage striker Nathan Bailey was also given a chance to shine, starting up front with the long-haired Mark Draycott, but his contribution did little to suggest he could fill the boots of James Constable.

Perrin eventually lost patience with the big centre forward after 54 minutes, hauling him off for match winner Griffin.

Bailey looked to be lacking match practice, but in truth it was a truly forgettable debut and he was released by Perrin after the match.

Griffin, one size bigger than the former Reading apprentice, continues to grow in stature and his wonder strike in the 104th minute on a cold Tuesday night made it back-to-back goals for the man who had been prolific in the Western League.

Defender Ross Adams clipped a delightful ball into the path of the former Corsham striker. He collected the pass on his thigh before unleashing a dipping drive past helpless Supermarine keeper Tom King from inside the box. It had been a long time coming for the 246 shivering inside Hardenhuish Park.

Iain Harvey, handed the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Gary Thorne, had the ball in the net on 76 minutes only to be frustrated by the linesman's flag.

From close range, he followed-up Josh Jefferies' shot which was spilled by King into his path.

The arrival of the pacey Sam Allison on 71 minutes boosted the Chippenham attack, and he had a chance to prevent an extra 30 minutes before normal time finished. Man of the match Wayne Thorne, a thorn in the side of any attacker, burst out of defence from a Supermarine corner and released Sean Seavill who in turn played in Allison.

But he rejected the chance to open his legs, cut inside and the opportunity was taken away by defender Steve Bennett, the classy Supermarine captain.

Griffin also squandered an opening in the 76th minute, shooting straight at the keeper when being releasd by Allison's headed knock down.

For all Stanley's good work down the left, including a fizzing free kick which struck the bar in the first half, the right flank was also productive as the game wore on.

Seavill, who also hit the bar in the opening 45 minutes, was terrorising his marker with his dribbling. The only way to stop him was with both feet, and substitute Shaun Wimble was lucky not to see red for a blatant lunge on the winger having already been booked. Supermarine had chances of their own. Former Swindon Town trainee Lance Lewis poked a shot into the side netting and also snatched at a centre with the goal at his mercy.

But it is the Bluebirds, set to play Supermarine again in the Wiltshire Premier Shield, who will host Team Bath on January 24.

Chippenham: Snoddy, Charity (McEntegart 45), W Thorne, Bunyard, Adams, Jefferies, Seavill, Harvey, Bailey (Griffin 54), Draycott (Allison 71), Stanley. Subs not used: Kirk, Jones.