MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-1 St. Albans City | National League South | Saturday 1st March 2025
For the second time in five days Jac Poffley came up with an important goal for the Bluebirds. After scoring the winning goal at Slough in midweek, the teenager popped up with a stoppage time equalizer.
The start of the match was delayed by over a half an hour late due to the visitors late arrival.
However, they showed no ill effects from their delay and were the first to show on five minutes with a shot across the face of goal.
On the quarter hour mark Luke Spokes’ short free kick to Harry Parsons saw the striker cut in before shooting wide.
Five minutes later Parsons’ shot was blocked.
Midway through the half Leone Gravata won the ball in midfield and drove forward, however in the act of shooting the ball bobbled and his effort was off target.
The Saints made little headway with their only efforts of note seeing Giorgio Rasulo’s free kick going straight to Will Henry and Zane Banton’s low shot being held by the Chippenham keeper.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-0 St. Albans City
The game livened up after the break as Saints Alfie Bendle shot wide whilst Caine Bradbury’s cross presented Alex Bray with a good opportunity from six yards out but he lifted his shot over.
On fifty six minutes Brandon Mason failed to beat Henry before Bluebird substitute Will Dawes saw his shot deflected behind and Parsons had an effort go wide.
St Albans opened the scoring on sixty five minutes as Banton won the ball before finding Aidan Dausch to score.
A raft of changes saw the home side come back into the game as substitute Tom Mehew’s shot was blocked but from the rebound Bray again shot over the bar from close in.
Dawes’ shot lacked the power to beat Michael Johnson whilst fellow substitute Hamzad Kargbo shot wide.
On ninety minutes Kargbo, who appeared to be struggling with a hamstring strain, shot wide.
Then in the third minute of stoppage time Spokes’ free kick picked out Poffley at the far post and he nodded past Johnson.
A minute later another Spokes free kick could have seen the Bluebirds take all the points but Kargbo headed straight at Johnson.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 St. Albans City
Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray, Jac Poffley, Freddie Grant, Tyreke Johnson (Will Dawes 52), Luke Spokes, Caine Bradbury, Joe Andrews, Tom Owen-Evans (Tom Mehew 62) Leone Gravata (Aaron Amadi-Holloway 78), Harry Parsons (Matt McClure 78) subs not used: none
St Albans: Michael Johnson, James Clarridge, Deon Woodman, David Longe-King, Brandon Mason, Zane Banton (Reuben Wyatt 73) James Sweet, Giorgio Rasulo (Alfie Payne 87), Alfie Bendle, Shaun Jeffers (Harrison Smith 67), Aidan Dausch (Ken Charles 78) sub not used: Tafari Moore
Ref: Charles Martland
Ass Refs: Simon Parbery, Lewis Ward
4th official: David Payne
Attendance: 707
