MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 0-1 Basingstoke Town | Pre-Season Friendly | Tuesday 25th July 2023

Defeat at home for The Bluebirds.

The very late defeat to last season’s Isthmian League South Central Division 1 champions will be less of a concern to the management team than the first half ankle injury to Tom Owen-Evans which saw him leave the ground on crutches.

The Bluebirds missed a number of late chances to open the scoring and in the end went down to an eighty ninth minute Danny Rowe goal although there were strong claims that he controlled the ball with his hands before netting.

The first chance fell to Chippenham on six minutes as Owen-Evans shot wide.

Basingstoke then fired over from a free kick.

Then with only Will Henry to beat a Stoke striker saw the home stopper use his feet to block.

Midway though the half Owen-Evans was replaced by Jake Evans.

On thirty three minutes a Basingstoke shot went high whilst Evans’ shot on the volley was going wide but met by Alex Bray whose shot was off target.

Bray then found Owen Windsor whose low shot was saved by Paul Strudley.

In first half stoppage time a visiting striker was clean through but Henry took the ball off his feet.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-0 Basingstoke Town

Eight minutes after the interval Joe Poffley crossed to Craig Fasanmade whose low shot was saved.

Just before the hour mark Henry made a superb save as he pushed a free kick behind.

From the resulting corner Basingstoke shot wide.

On the hour mark the Bluebirds made several substitutions.

And one of those, Matt McClure headed just wide on sixty six minutes.

Seven minutes later Tyreke Johnson’s cross found McClure whose point-blank shot was superbly kept out by Strudley.

A further Johnson cross then found Fasanmade at the back post and his effort hit a post.

After Basingstoke’s goal Chippenham had one more chance but Evans shot over.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 0-1 Basingstoke Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Leighton Tuodolo, Will King, Nathan Williams, Owen Windsor, Caine Bradbury, Tom Owen-Evans, Craig Fasanmade, Mal Nicholls, Alex Bray.

Subs used: Jake Evans, Matt McClure, Tyreke Johnson, Dan McCallister, Ed Jones, Jac Poffley, Freddie Grant