MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-2 Braintree Town | National League South | Saturday 4th February 2023
Chippenham Town’s first home Saturday league game in nineteen weeks saw the Bluebirds slip back into the relegation zone as they narrowly went down to a Jo Boachie first half brace.
On four minutes Alfie Santos’s free kick was only cleared to the edge of the box and Will King’s low shot was saved by Jack Sims as Chippenham continued to make all the running Luke Russe could not get the necessary power behind his seventeenth minute header to beat Sims.
Braintree took the lead with their first real attempt on goal on twenty five minutes as debutant Alfie Pavey flicked to Kyron Farrell whose cross was headed home by Boachie. Baris Altintop then headed over for the Iron.
On the half hour King’s driven cross saw Matt McClure just manage to get a touch but it wasn’t enough to beat Sims.
Two minutes later Craig Fasanmade’s shot was charged down.
As Chippenham continued to make all the running Will Tizzard’s shot from outside of the area was saved whilst a cross from the right presented Santos with a close range chance but his volley was blocked.
Five minutes before the break Braintree doubled their lead as Pavey’s attempt on goal fell to Boachie who netted.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 0-2 Braintree Town
Three minutes into the second half Aaron Simpson’s low cross saw Sims block Fasanmade’s effort from close in.
On fifty minutes the game was held up for five minutes as referee Craig Scriven went down with a leg injury.
Pavey then headed wide whilst Joe Hanks’ cross saw Russe’s volley tipped over for a corner from which Fasanmade netted but the referee ruled the goal out.
As Chippenham continued to push forward the Essex side looked to hit the Bluebirds on the break.
One such chance saw Boachie one on one with Will Henry but he shot wide.
Nine minutes from time McClure’s long range shot was safely held before Chippenham pulled a goal back two minutes from time through substitute Owen Windsor, making his league debut, after Sims’ block fell to him.
In stoppage time substitute Caine Bradbury almost rescued a point as his free kick hit the side netting.
Braintree substitute Aaron Blair had two late chances to make the game safe for the visitors but his first was blocked and his second flew over the bar.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-2 Braintree Town
Chippenham: Will Henry, Aaron Simpson, Will Tizzard, Will Richards, Will King, Luke Russe (Alex Bray 77), Joe Hanks, Tom Mehew (Owen Windsor 85), Alefe D’Abadia (Caine Bradbury 82), Matt McClure, Craig Fasanmade subs not used: Spencer Hamilton, Callum Gunner
Braintree: Jack Sims, Leon Davies, Baris Altintop, Kyran Clements, Kyron Farrell, Willie Clemons (Chris Regis 77), Jack Turner, Alfie Payne, Alfie Matthews (Aaron Blair 46), Alfie Pavey, Jo Boachie (Matthew Rush) subs not used: Lamar Reynolds, Damani Hunter
Ref: Craig Scriven
Ass Refs: Colin Hubbard, Martin Underhay
Match report by Wil Hulbert
