MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 0-1 Hemel Hempstead Town | National League South | Tues 25th Oct 2022
After scoring late in three matches themselves the Bluebirds found the boot or rather the head of Kory Roberts was on the other foot as his stoppage time header from a corner inflicted Chippenham’s second successive home league defeat.
Chippenham’s cause was not helped as they were without eight players through a combination of flu, Covid and injuries, that said missed chances again cost them dear.
Hemel were the first to show on four minutes as Luke Holness shot wide following a corner.
Hemel keeper Craig King then safely held a Jordan Young free kick.
Neat play from Brooklyn Ilunga then presented Holness with another chance that saw him again off target.
On seventeen minutes Josh Castiglione went through on goal but his effort was blocked by Callum Gunner.
Chippenham then had their best chance of the half when Harvey Greenslade intercepted a misplaced pass but King came out on top in a one on one situation.
Ilunga then saw a shot blocked whilst Young’s run saw his low shot from distance saved.
On the half hour Hemel broke clear but Ilunga was thwarted by Luke Russe.
Young’s free kick was then held by King.
Before the interval Russe saw a shot from distance fail to hit the target.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-0 Hemel Hempstead Town
The Hemel custodian pulled off a near post save shortly into the second half.
A cross from the right saw Greenslade fail to get the necessary purchase and the ball fell to King.
A seventy seventh minute corner fell to Alex Bray but he was unable to convert.
Substitute Alfie Santos had the ball in the net on eighty one minutes but the effort was ruled out for a foul.
King then saved a long range shot from Russe.
With four minutes of stoppage time indicated a Chippenham interception saw the ball roll towards the corner flag and the fickle finger of fate intervened as the ball hit the flag and rolled out for a corner rather than go the other way for a throw.
The resulting ninety fourth minute flag-kick was headed home by Roberts.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 0-1 Hemel Hempstead Town
Chippenham: Will Henry, Leighton Tuolodo, Harrison Minturn, Will Richards, Alex Bray (Harley Vozza 89), Callum Gunner, Tom Mehew, Caine Bradbury, Luke Russe, Harry Greenslade, Jordan Young (Alfie Santos 63)
Subs not used: Ethan Witchell, Craig Fasanade, Zak Mitchell
Hemel Hempstead: Craig King, Josh Lelan, Jermaine Meade, Bayley Brown (Harris O’Connor 64), Jack Westbrook (Charlie Barker 59), Kory Roberts, Dara Dada (Ogo Obi 59), Dominic Morgan-Griffiths, Luke Holness, Josh Castiglione, Brooklyn Ilunga
Subs not used: Godfrey Poku, Jordan-Neil Greenid
Ref: Craig Scrivener
Ass refs: Adam Wilson, Jake Woolley
Att: 531
Match Report by Wil Hulbert