MATCH REPORT: Bath City 1-3 Chippenham Town | National League South | Mon 26th Dec 2022
The Bluebirds gave their fans some Christmas cheer as they recorded their first win at Twerton Park since 2017.
Local rivalries were put aside before the match when Bath’s Alex Fletcher, who suffered a horrendous head injury in Bath’s home game against Dulwich in November, made an appearance on the pitch and received warm applause from both sets of supporters and teams.
In a reversal of recent matches Chippenham came from behind, as a polished performance saw them take the three points.
It also proved to be their first away league victory of the season and their first league win since the end of September twelve games ago.
Jordan Young had two chances for the Wiltshire side as Josh Gould saved his eleventh minute shot whilst twelve minutes later he went close with a free kick.
Bath took the lead on twenty five minutes when Will Henry spilled a shot from Rex Mannings and Scott Wilson reacted quickest to fire home the loose ball.
Gould then saved a low free kick from Young before Harry Parsons levelled with a fine header from Alfie Santos’ cross on twenty eight minutes.
Before the break Gould saved a curling effort from Parsons who also saw a shot charged down.
HALF TIME: Bath City 1-1 Chippenham Town
Chippenham took the lead nine minutes into the second half when Santos’ corner was headed home by unmarked skipper Spencer Hamilton for his first league goal in a Bluebird shirt.
Just after the hour mark Tom Mehew’s volley was saved by Gould whilst another effort from Parsons was blocked.
Bath’s Dan Hayfield then shot into the side netting.
Bath then earned a trio of corners with Henry tipping over from the middle one.
Young made the game safe in the eighty sixth minute with a fine individual goal as he ran across the eighteen yard line beating three defenders before firing home.
A Bath corner a minute from time saw substitute Elliot Frear’s volley blocked and despite six minutes of stoppage time neither side created any further chances.
The only downside of the game saw further injuries to Alex Bray and Eddie Jones.
FULL TIME: Bath City 1-3 Chippenham Town
Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones (Leighton Tuodolo 53), Spencer Hamilton, Will Richards, Alfie Santos, Jordan Young, Alex Bray (Joe Hanks 66), Harry Parsons, Tom Mehew, Will Tizzard, Luke Russe subs not used: Joe Parker, Caine Bradbury, Callum Gunner
Bath: Josh Gould, Joe Raynes (Tom Smith 37), Dan Greenslade, Jordan Dyer, Kieran Parselle, Dan Hayfield, Chris Lines, Rex Mannings (Sonny Cox 68), Scott Wilson, James Morton, Callum Eubanks (Elliot Frear 46) subs not used: Jack Batten, Ryan Clarke
Ref: Mr Parkinson
Att: 2080
