MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-1 St Albans City | National League South | Saturday 1st April 2023

The Bluebirds extended their unbeaten run to fourteen matches on a heavy pitch that was more than playable although many games in the area and National South were called off due to water-logged pitches. Top six side St Albans finished with ten men and were content to play out for the draw in the final ten minutes.

The Saints were the first to show as Zane Banton shot wide whilst strike partner Mitchell Weiss fired over.

Man of the match Will Henry then did well to beat out a shot from Kyran Wiltshire.

Luke Russe and Tom Mehew then had shots charged down by the Saints defence whilst on the half hour Ed Williams fired over a free kick for the hosts.

Before the break Saints keeper Dylan Berry did well to save from Owen Windsor.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-0 St Albans City

The game sprang to life in the first eight minutes of the second half as Chippenham took the lead on forty seven minutes.

Joe Parker’s cross was headed goalwards by Owen Windsor whilst Joe Hanks following in thumped home, although both players claimed the goal.

St Albans hit back within five minutes as a defence splitting ball was slotted home by Banton.

Midway through the half Henry did well to block Chay Cooper’s effort and Banton hit the loose ball wide.

At the other end Windsor was played through on goal but he hit his shot straight at Berry.

Nine minutes from time St Albans were reduced to ten men in rather bizarre circumstances.

After Spencer Hamilton was fouled the referee waved play on. When the game stopped he showed the red card to a Saints player only for an assistant to attract his attention to point out it was the wrong player and eventually Riccardo Di Trolio received a straight red.

After that neither side really threatened although Mehew brought a stoppage time save from Berry.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 St Albans City

Chippenham: Will Henry, Spencer Hamilton, Ollie Tomlinson, Will Richards, Will King (Alex Bray 65), Tom Mehew, Luke Russe, Joe Hanks, Ed Williams, Joe Parker, Owen Windsor subs not used: Ed Jones, Aaron Simpson, Alefe D’Abadia, Marcel Lewis

St Albans: Dylan Berry, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Joy Mukena, Riccardo Di Trolio, Devante Stanley (Glenn McConnell 75), Chay Cooper, Kyran Wiltshire (Ben Smith 90), Ryan Blackman, Tafari Moore, Zane Banton, Mitchell Weiss (Shaun Jeffers 75) subs not used: Shaun Sundire, Joe Neal

Ref: Neil Pratt

Ass Refs: James Hooper, Thomas Green

Att: 687

Match report by Wil Hulbert