MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-1 Chelmsford City | National League South | Saturday 20th April 2024

A draw saw Chippenham remain in twelfth place in their final game of the season – their highest National South finish bar their play-off year.

Visitors Chelmsford were also celebrating as they finished runners-up albeit pipping Worthing by a goal difference of one.

The game, watched by 902 spectators, with a large following from Essex, certainly did not produce the often bland last game of the season, as both sides went after the win.

The first half belonged to the Clarets who created most of the chances until the final few minutes before the break.

Caine Bradbury did have a twelfth minute shot blocked but then Chelmsford asked most of the questions.

Charlie Ruff robbed Mal Nicholls but his shot from long range was wide.

Ruff then saw an effort blocked on the line whilst Luke Jenkins’ effort from forty yards out bounced into Will Henry’s arms.

Chelmsford opened the scoring on twenty three minutes when a defensive mistake allowed Jermaine Francis to find Ruff who in turn found George Alexander who netted. Two minutes later a Clarets free kick was only cleared as far as Jenkins whose curling shot was saved by Henry.

On the half hour Craig Fasanmade was played through but he shot over the bar.

As the half drew to a close Henry Ochieng’s long range effort went over before a good Bluebird move ended with Tom Owen-Evans low drive thundering against a post.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-1 Chelmsford City

A Bradbury free kick was then superbly tipped over by on-loan Norwich keeper Dylan Berry.

On fifty five minutes Francis’ shot was deflected behind, whilst Alexander wasted a good opportunity as he fired across the face of goal.

A Chelmsford corner ended with Ochieng blazing wide whilst substitute Ody Afa twice blazed over.

A quarter of an hour from time Aaron Amadi-Holloway was moved up front and on eighty minutes substitute Tom Mehew’s shot was blocked and Amadi-Holloway hit the loose ball over the bar.

A minute later Bradbury’s long range effort cleared the bar.

Chippenham’s equalizer came on eighty two minutes as Amadi-Holloway challenged Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and Berry on the edge of the area, with the Clarets’ captain screaming at his keeper to kick the ball into touch Berry tried to round Amadi-Holloway who won the ball and burst into the area only to have his heels clipped by the keeper. Fasanmade made no mistake from the resulting penalty.

There was still time for chances at both ends as Owen-Evans’ shot was saved, whilst at the other end Barnum-Bobb blazed over whilst in stoppage time Bradbury just failed to pick out substitute Luke Spokes with a cross that was cleared by a Clarets defender.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 Chelmsford City

Chippenham: Will Henry, Leighton Tuodolo (Dan Ellison 76), Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Jem Hewlett, Nat Williams, Mal Nichols (Luke Spokes 69), Will King (Tom Mehew 61) Caine Bradbury, Tyreke Johnson, Tom Owen-Evans, Craig Fasanmade sub not used: Alex Avenell

Chelmsford: Dylan Berry, Ben Brookes, Henry Ochieng, Jermaine Francis, George Alexander (Freddie Hockey 74), Samir Carruthers (Ody Alfa 40), Finley Barbrook, Luke Jenkins, Charlie Ruff, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, Callum Watts (Anthony Wordsworth 90) subs not used: Cameron James, Callum Jones

Ref: Craig Scriven

Ass Ref: Ryan Dix, Harry Price

Att: 902