MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-2 Bath City | National League South | Tuesday 26th December 2023

This Boxing Day derby was strangely subdued until the last quarter of an hour as referee Rob Ablitt took centre stage.

After Scott Wilson opened the scoring on seventy five minutes Bath were awarded a controversial penalty eight minutes later.

Dan Ellison then pulled a goal back only for stoppage time to see an Adam Amadi-Holloway goal again controversially ruled out for an alleged push whilst substitute Tom Owen-Evans was clearly flattened in the area but no penalty ensued.

The first chance fell to the Bluebirds on nine minutes as Luke Haines shot wide from twenty five yards.

Eight minutes later Dan Hayfield’s shot was deflected for a corner whilst Tom Smith volleyed over from the edge of the area.

On twenty six minutes Jordan Thomas’ shot from an angle was blocked by Will Henry’s boot, whilst Hayfield shot wide.

On twenty eight minutes Luke Spokes’ thirty yard effort was saved by Will Buse.

On the half hour Dan Greenslade’s cross was met by Wilson and his shot was blocked.

Four minutes later Henry saved another Wilson effort.

Before the break Wilson skied a headed effort over whilst a foul on Craig Fasanmade went unpunished and Bath broke to gain a free kick on the edge of the area which Thomas put over.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-0 Bath City

After the break Joe Raynes and Greenslade were both off target with efforts.

On fifty three minutes a superb run from Tom Mehew from his own half to the area saw him choose to pass when a shot may have been the better option.

Caine Bradbury then fired over from the edge of the area whilst Henry made a superb save to deny Hayfield.

Midway through the half Ed Williams found Freddie Grant but his shot went wide whilst substitute Jake Evans’ snap shot was saved by Buse.

Bath opened the scoring on seventy five minutes when the ball fell to Wilson in the box and he made no mistake.

Eight minutes later Amadi-Holloway was adjudged to have fouled in the area and substitute Cody Cooke despatched the resultant penalty.

The Bluebirds halved the deficit on eighty seven minutes with a bullet header from Ellison following a corner.

That was followed by intense Chippenham pressure that led to the disallowed goal and non award of a penalty.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-2 Bath City

Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Luke Haines, Dan Ellison, Freddie Grant, Luke Spokes, Tom Mehew (Jake Evans 63), Caine Bradbury (Matt McClure 76), Ed Williams, Craig Fasanmade (Tom Owen-Evans 79). Subs not used: Tyreke Johnson, Nat Williams

Bath: Will Buse, Joe Raynes, Danny Greenslade, Jordan Dyer, Kieran Parselle, Dan Hayfield, Tom Smith (Cody Cooke 67), Elliott Frear (Ewan Clark 63), Jordan Thomas, Scott Wilson (Jack Batten 86), Luke Russe . Subs not used: Chris Lines, Oscar Thorn

Ref: Robert Ablitt

Ass Refs: Matthew Langdon, Colin Hubbard

Att: 1649