MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-3 Torquay United | National League South | Tuesday 4th March 2025
The Bluebirds mini unbeaten run of five games came to an end at the hands of play-off chasing Torquay United. After coming from behind to level by the interval an early second half goal and a stoppage time third saw the Gulls take the three points.
The first chance fell to the Bluebirds on three minutes when Will Dawes, playing against his former side, crossed to Tom Owen-Evans whose looping header bounced off the top of the cross bar and behind.
A minute later Dan Hayfield’s effort at the other end went wide.
The Devon side took the lead on nine minutes as Offrande Zanzala’s ball saw Jordan Thomas fail to convert but Matt Carson was on hand to head home.
Three minutes later former Bluebird favourite Jordan Young and Will Jenkins Davis had shots blocked whilst just before the quarter hour mark Tom Mehew saw James Hamon off his line but despite his lob beating the keeper it went wide.
Dawes’ cross then deflected to Mehew whose shot was saved by Hamon at the expense of a corner.
Just after the half hour mark Mehew was caught in the act of shooting but rather than a penalty being awarded a free kick was given against him.
Luke Spokes then fired over whilst Mehew again appeared to be impeded in the box but again no penalty ensued.
The Bluebirds equalized three minutes before the break as the ball was laid back to Caine Bradbury whose low drive from distance beat Hamon.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 Torquay United
The Gulls started the second half strongly as Thomas hit the bar and Jenkins Davies fired over and Henry saved from Zanzala, whilst Lirak Hasani shot over.
Torquay re-gained the lead on fifty seven minutes as Young found Zanzala Henry blocked the original shot but Zanzala followed-up to net.
On seventy minutes substitute Harry Parsons’ shot on the run went wide. Twelve minutes later Henry thwarted Young and substitute Cody Cooke hit the rebound wide.
Spokes then saw his shot deflected behind whilst his free kick was cleared only as far as Mehew whose shot was saved. In the seventh minute of stoppage time a defensive error allowed Matt Jay to seal the three points.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 1-3 Torquay United
Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray, Jac Poffley, Freddie Grant, Will Dawes (Tyreke Johnson 73), Luke Spokes, Caine Bradbury, Tom Mehew, Tom Owen-Evans (Harry Parsons 64), Leone Gravata (Joe Andrews 70), Matt McClure (Aaron Amadi-Holloway 80) sub not used: Nat Williams
Torquay: James Hamon, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Lirak Hasani, Jordan Young (Ed Palmer 90), Matt Carson (Cody Cooke 64), Offrande Zanzala, Dan Hayfield, Will Jenkins Davies, Jordan Thomas, Matt Jay subs not used: Finley Craske, Omar Mussa, Oscar Threlkeld
Ref: Neil Pratt
Ass Refs: Neal Templey, Isaac Blakey
4th official: James Tewson
Att: 781
