MATCH REPORT : Chippenham Town 1-1 Braintree Town – Sat 30th Oct 2021

Despite a gallant second half rearguard action the Bluebirds just failed to protect their interval lead, given to them by a superb Kieran Parselle goal, as the Iron equalised in the final minute of stoppage time.

Despite a gallant second half rearguard action the Bluebirds just failed to protect their interval lead, given to them by a superb Kieran Parselle goal, as the Iron equalised in the final minute of stoppage time.

The result meant Chippenham had twice failed inside a week to beat a team at the bottom of the league on home soil.

The Bluebirds were the more dominant side in the opening half although the first attempt on goal fell to the visitors on six minutes when Myles Anderson headed straight at Will Henry.

On nineteen minutes Parselle’s shot cum cross flew over the bar whilst at the other end Will Henry held Arjanit Krasniqi’s free kick.

On thirty three minutes the Iron’s Femi Akinwande’s shot was high and wide.

Chippenham opened the scoring six minutes before the break as Will Richards played a superb ball into the area and Parselle took one touch on his thigh before hitting an unstoppable volley past William Johnson.

Three minutes later Ross Stearn took on four visiting defenders but as he entered the box he appeared to be floored but referee Johnathan Maskrey waived aside appeals for a penalty.

Before the break Tom Derry dragged his shot wide of goal.

After the break the Iron came more into the game with Krasniqi firing over and Correy Davidson unable to find the target with a header.

Ricky Aquiar then hit his free kick into the Essex side’s wall whilst Krasniqi was too high with a free kick.

A quarter of an hour from time Henry did well to turn Johnson’s shot onto a post whilst Derry’s header from a free kick lacked the pace to beat Henry. On seventy nine minutes Harvey Bunker’s free kick pierced the visitors wall but was easily dealt with by Johnson.

Aquiar then broke forward but he was forced out wide and his angled shot was comfortably saved.

On eighty one minutes Henry superbly tipped Derry’s header over the bar after a cross from Corrie Davidson.

Three minutes later Bluebird substitute Harry Warwick’s attempt to lob Johnson fell into the keeper’s arms whilst Henry held an effort from Akinwande. Just as it looked like Chippenham’s defensive efforts, with Richards outstanding at the back, would succeed, a ball into the box in stoppage time pinged around before being turned in by Myles Anderson.

Chippenham: Will Henry, Harvey Bunker, Spencer Hamilton, Kieran Parselle, Will Richards, Luke Russe (Joe Hanks 37), Callum Gunner  (Lawal Oluwasegun 68) Ricky Aquiar, Adam Mann, Marlon Jackson (Harry Warwick 74) Ross Stearn sub not used; Alefe D’Abadia

Braintree: William Johnson, Marcus Johnston-Schuster (Gianni Crichlow 87), Jay Parter (Harry Hope 65), Matthew Johnson, Luke Pennell, Kyran Clements, Myles Anderson, Arjanit Krasniqi, Correy Davidson, Tom Derry, Femi Akinwande subs not used: Ezra Ikbuasi, Jamal Balogun, Gabriel Piorkowski

Ref: Johnathan Maskrey

Ass Refs: Jack Clench, James Welsh

Match Report By Wil Hulbert