MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 2-3 Hemel Hempstead Town | National League South | Saturday 6th January 2024

The Bluebirds made a losing start to 2024, making a slow start to the game that saw the Tudors take a 2-0 lead in the opening thirty nine minutes.

A forced substitution before the break saw the injured Matt McClure replaced by Luke Haines with central defender Aaron Amadi-Holloway moving up front.

From then on the Bluebirds made all the running until they went down to a penalty in the ninety second minute.

There was only one team in it for the opening forty minutes and that was the visitors who took a second minute lead with a fine strike from George Williams.

Will Henry then blocked a Tudors shot before Chippenham’s finally forced Craig King into action as he saved a thirty yard Ed Williams shot.

On thirty three minutes Alex Bray’s cross found McClure in the box but he was unable to control the ball.

George Williams then saw a shot blocked by Dan Ellison.

The visitors lost defender Josh Williams to injury on thirty six minutes.

However, they doubled their lead on thirty nine minutes when hesitation at a corner allowed Tre Mitford to head home.

The game then swung Chippenham’s way as  McClure was forced off a minute later and Amadi-Holloway was moved up front.

The Bluebirds pulled a goal back in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Amadi-Holloway swept home a cross from Eddie Jones.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 1-2 Hemel Hempstead Town

The second half saw Chippenham continually press the Tudors back as Jake Evans fired wide from an Amadi-Holloway knock back, whilst Hemel stopper King was booked for time wasting ten minutes after the break.

A long range effort from Brandon Barzey went wide whilst Bray found Evans who fired wide.

On the hour mark Hemel were reduced to ten men when Montel McKenzie was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle.

From the resulting free kick the ball was moved to Bray who dribbled into the box before beating King with a low shot.

On seventy minutes substitute Erald Desa saw Henry save at the expense of a corner.

As Chippenham went in search of a winner Amadi-Holloway’s headed effort from substitute Tyreke Johnson’s seventy seventh minute cross lacked the power and direction to beat King whilst the Tudor’s stopper turned a headed effort from Johnson over the bar.

Nine minutes from time Amadi-Holloway headed over the bar from a Jones cross whilst Evans again failed to hit the target.

In the second minute of stoppage time a mistake by the home defence allowed Brandon Barzey to advance into the area and he was brought down allowing George Williams to score from the resultant penalty.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 2-3 Hemel Hempstead Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Dan Ellison, Nat Williams, Alex Bray (Tyreke Johnson 71),  Luke Spokes, Ed Williams (Tom Mehew 81), Jake Evans, Will King, Matt McClure (Luke Haines 40) subs not used: Craig Fasanmade, Tom Owen-Evans

Hemel Hempstead: Craig King, Montel McKenzie, Josh Hill, Chris Smith, Kyle O’Connor-Ajayi, Josh Williams (Erald Desa 36 [Kaylen Hinds 88], George Williams, Joe Re, Kombie Kawimbe, Brandon Barzey, Tre Mitford (Bayley Brown 66) subs not used: Guiseppe Iaciofano, James Taylor

Referee: Matthew Scholes

Ass Refs: Nicholas Whittington, Daniel Malyon

Att: 518