MATCH REPORT : Chippenham Town 1-0 Maidstone United | National League South | Saturday 14th February
Bluebirds loving on Valentine’s Day, as Parsons’ goal is the difference; Charlie Sugg reports below
We defeated Maidstone United thanks to a last gasp Harry Parsons strike, after another resolute defensive performance.
The first big chance fell for Chippenham in the 11th minute when Freddie Grant delivered long in which Parsons flicked the ball on to Ezio Touray who cut the ball back across the box and was cleared but landed to Tom Owen-Evans.
He shot and a deflection on the effort fell to Tom Mehew on the edge of the box and then his effort towards goal found Touray who lunged for the ball at the far post and his shot was blazed over the bar.
Straight up the other end, TJ Bramble then dribbled towards the box and slipped a pass through to John Gilbert and his enticing low cross couldn’t find a stones man at the far post.
A couple minutes later Muhammadu Faal got the better of Grant in a 50-50 with the forward driving towards the goal before he drilled his shot low forcing Henry to make his first save of the game.
On the half hour mark, Chippenham started a counter attack playing some slick passes before Owen-Evans put in a deep cross to the far post in which Bradbury got on the end of forcing Nathan Harness to make his first save.
The next big chance fell to the Bluebirds again, Colwell delivered a dangerous cross into the box in which Touray chested down to Bradbury and his half volley was blocked by Taylor Foran.
Half-time: Chippenham Town 0-0 Maidstone United
Maidstone started the second half the brighter with Sam Corne having space out wide whose cross found Faal who couldn’t sort his feet out in time and his shot came off his knee and wide of the post.
The stones next attack came moment later when the ball landed to Corne who disguised his pass to Gilbert. Stones’ number ten then dinked the ball over Henry and in the net, but the assistant’s flag was up for offside.
Riley Court received the ball out wide who cut inside and beaten multiple Chippenham defenders with his shot being well blocked by Grant.
Our first big chance of the second half was created by some brilliant one-two football between Chukwu and Evans before the latter went long to Touray who was a nuisance to Foran and won the ball back in the box. He laid it off to Chukwu whose shot was blocked and landed to Haines from 25 yards with his shot rifled just wide off the post.
A big chance came with 10 minutes left as tricky footwork from substitute Sol Wanjau-Smith resulted in him putting in a cross towards the far post which found Chuckwu and his effort hit the post from with the ball ricocheting in the box before being cleared to Wood who’s knuckle ball attempt at goal swerved just wide of the post.
A corner for Maidstone taken by Ruben Carvalho found the head of Bramble who was unmarked and his header landed straight at Henry with multiple claims of the ball going over the line being waved away by officials.
The last attack of the game came from a Haines long throw as it was put in the box and landed to Parsons who buried past Harness into the bottom left corner to win the game for the Bluebirds in the 96th minute.
