MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 3-1 Dover Athletic | National League South | Saturday 11th March 2023

The Bluebirds recorded back to back league wins for only the second time this season as an entertaining end to end game saw them come out on top against Dover Athletic who were relegated from the National League last season.

Both keepers were in impressive form or the scoreline might well have been higher.

The first chance fell to Dover on seven minutes as Noah Carney got on the end of a long ball but Will Henry did well to block the striker’s shot.

A minute later Matt McClure was just off target for the Bluebirds.

Two Dover free kicks in quick succession taken by Lee Martin (who knocked the Bluebirds out of last season’s play-offs when plying his trade for Ebbsfleet) failed to make an impression on the home defence.

Joe Parker and Craig Fasanmade then combined to create a chance for McClure which he was unable to capitalise on.

Chippenham opened the scoring midway through the half as Bray’s shot was pushed out by Stuart Nelson but only as far as Parker who netted.

Dover should have equalized on twenty five minutes when Luke Wanadio received a crossfield ball that put him in behind the home defence but Henry did well to parry his angled shot.

On the half hour a Bluebird corner was cleared to Tom Mehew who shot over.

A further Bluebird flag-kick ended with Fasanmade finding Alfie Santos who shot straight at Nelson.

Dover’s Jordan Higgs then had three shots in as many minutes the first went over the bar whilst the others were saved by Henry.

Five minutes before the interval a Chippenham corner saw Bray’s shot deflected.

At the other end Carney’s effort was blocked by Henry and a Martin effort was also blocked by the home defence.

In stoppage time Henry denied Myles Judd whilst Fasanmade bore down on goal but his shot was saved by Nelson.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 1-0 Dover Athletic

Dover levelled two minutes into the second half as a short corner was played to Judd whose shot went in courtesy of the underside of the bar.

Caine Bradbury then came on for the injured McClure whilst Owen Windsor replaced Santos.

On fifty four minutes Parker’s low cross into the six yard box was just out of reach of Fasanmade.

Two minutes later Bradbury’s corner was pulled back to Mehew who unleashed a thunderous thirty five yard shot that was superbly tipped over by Nelson.

Fasanmade was then left with only Nelson to beat but the keeper came to the edge of his area to block the shot.

Midway though the half Parker dragged his shot wide.

On seventy two minutes Parker’s pinpoint cross found the leaping Fasanmade who headed past Nelson.

Eight minutes later the Dover defence was exposed again as Bray raced into the area before finding Windsor who slotted home.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 3-1 Dover Athletic

Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Alex Bray, Will Richards, Will Tizzard (Aaron Simpson 89), Tom Mehew, Luke Russe, Alfie Santos (Owen Windsor 51), Joe Parker, Matt McClure (Caine Bradbury 51), Craig Fasanmade subs not used: Joe Hanks, Pele Kouisseoue

Dover: Stuart Nelson, Myles Judd, Alfie Paxman, Jake Goodman, Jordan Higgs, Luke Wanadio, Lee Martin, George Wilkinson, Tyrone Sterling, Noah Carney (Luke Baptiste 81), Pierre Brandon (Kieron Agbebi 87) subs not used: Will Moses, Andi Janjeva, Mich Brundle

Match report by Wil Hulbert