MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 2-1 Melksham Town | Pre-Season Friendly, The Ian Monnery Trophy | Saturday 29th July 2023

The Bluebirds retain the Ian Monnery Trophy.

Chippenham Town’s community day was a huge success on and off the pitch. The 568 crowd was boosted by many families with young children who had come to enjoy the festivities on a warm but very windy day. The Bluebirds retained the Ian Monnery Trophy coming from behind with all the goals coming in the first half.

Melksham, with the strong wind at their backs, took the game to the Bluebirds and gave them a very testing opening twenty minutes.

The visitors took the lead on just two minutes when a wind-assisted Sam Hendy free kick from wide out on the left deceived Will Henry and floated into the top corner. The goal gave Melksham confidence and a further free kick, this time from just outside the area saw Ben Brooks’ effort saved by Henry.

On seven minutes Will King shot wide whilst on twenty minutes Tyreke Johnson pulled the ball back to King who was again off target.

Midway through the half Hendy’s shot was blocked.

The Bluebirds drew level on twenty seven minutes when Matt McClure was successful from the penalty spot awarded after he had been hauled down.

Just past the half hour Johnson cut in from the left but his shot lacked the power to beat Joel Mannings.

The deciding goal came on thirty four minutes when a deep cross from the left found Eddie Jones who controlled the ball before thumping it home.

Melksham fashioned two chances before the break as a long ball forward found Brooks who lobbed over the bar, whilst a free kick was worked wide and the cross ended with Ralph Graham’s bicycle kick being turned around the post by Henry.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 2-1 Melksham Town

After the break McClure shot wide whilst his touch to Caine Bradbury saw Mannings tip the ball over.

On sixty nine minutes substitute Owen Windsor beat two defenders but his low shot was touched behind by Mannings.

Eight minutes later some neat interplay ended with Windsor’s effort from inside the six yard box being blocked by Mannings for a corner.

Four minutes from time a Mannings’ clearance cannoned into a trialist but flew wide of the empty net. In the final minute a shot from Bradbury hit the side netting.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 2-1 Melksham Town

Chippenham Town: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Freddie Grant, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Nat Williams, Mal Nicholls, Will King, Caine Bradbury, Craig Fasanmade, Matt McClure, Tyreke Johnson
Subs: Trialist, Owen Windsor, Alex Bray, Leighton Tuodolo, Trialist, Sam Heal, Trialist, Trialist

Melksham Town: Joel Manning, George Plank, Nino Felix, Dave Thompson, Dion Molyneux, Sam Hendy, Ralph Graham, Aaron Wichell, Ally Hopkins, Ben Brooks, Gary Higdon
Subs: Jake Podge, Robbie James, Joe Porton, Zac Mitchell, Luke Ballinger

Att: 568