MATCH REPORT: Cheshunt 3-2 Chippenham Town | National League South | Tues 8th Nov 2022
After the euphoria of the weekend’s FA Cup victory over Lincoln City the Bluebirds came back down to earth with their fourth successive League defeat and fell into the relegation places. The loss came after a sparkling first half display saw a 2-0 interval lead overturned with a poor second half showing and a Ken Charles hattrick.
After a first minute effort from the hosts went wide Chippenham soon came into their own as Alfie Santos and Ed Jones combined to present Caine Bradbury with a chance but he was unable to take advantage.
A Luke Russe effort from outside of the box then went wide.
On eight minutes Jones drew a save from Ambers’ keeper Preston Edwards.
A minute later the Bluebirds opened the scoring as Will Richards found Santos who moved the ball friom right to left for Alex Bray to cross to Harry Parsons who beat two defenders before converting to score his first goal since returning on loan from Swindon Town.
On thirteen minutes a Santos corner saw another Parsons effort blocked.
Chippenham doubled their lead on nineteen minutes through a superb long range strike from Santos after Parsons had laid the ball back to him.
Midway through the half Cheshunt’s Rowan Liburd fired wide.
A long clearance from Edwards then bounced awkwardly and Will Henry had to be alert to save.
Ken Charles then saw his first effort of the night go wide.
On the half hour a free kick from Bradbury cleared the wall but Preston was able to save.
A minute later Richards did enough to ensure Liburd’s effort went wide.
Chippenham then broke clear as Bradbury found Parsons but his effort was blocked by Edwards’ legs and Bradbury’s follow-up shot hit the side netting.
Before the break a Bradbury effort again saw Edwards save.
HALF TIME: Cheshunt 0-2 Chippenham Town
After the break Cheshunt came out a different side and a quick fire Charles double in the forty eighth and fiftieth minute saw the scores level.
Bradbury then fired over following a Santos corner whilst Charles’s shot was deflected wide.
On the hour Henry made a superb save from substitute Emmanuel Maja’s headed effort, whilst Edwards just managed to push Bradbury’s seventy first minute shot round a post.
From the resulting corner Richards headed wide.
Cheshunt scored the winning goal on seventy three minutes as Henry went out to collect a ball out wide but failed to do so and it was crossed into the middle for Charles to fire into an empty net.
Five minutes from time Santos shot wide whilst in the fourth minute of stoppage time substitute Joe Parker had a good chance to rescue a point but his headed effort was directed into the ground and was tipped around a post and from the ensuing corner the Ambers’ keeper pulled off a stunning save to deny Bray.
FULL TIME: Cheshunt 3-2 Chippenham Town
Cheshunt: Preston Edwards, Raul Fernandes Da Silva, Luke Warner Eley (Maja, 45), Fraser Alexander, Taylor McKenzie, Lewis Hobbs, Enock Ekongo (Beckles Richards, 83), Joe Re ©, Rowan Liburd (Newton, 76), Mo Camara, Ken Charles. Subs not used: Will Tchamako, Josh Shonibare
Chippenham: Will Henry, Ed Jones, Spencer Hamilton (Harvey Greenslade 77), Harrison Minturn, Will Richards, Alfie Santos, Callum Gunner, Alex Bray, Harry Parsons (Joe Parker 65), Caine Bradbury, Luke Russe (Joe Hanks 53). Subs not used: Aaron Simpson, Tom Mehew
Attendance: 310
