MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 3-1 Taunton Town | National League South | Tuesday 14th March 2023
The Bluebirds made it three wins in a row as they came from behind to defeat their old Western League rivals. It was Chippenham’s most dominant performance of the season and the scoreline could easily have been doubled.
The Somerset side’s squad contained five former Bluebirds and one of those Jake Wannell headed Lloyd James’ fifth minute cross straight at Will Henry.
A minute later Joe Guest shot over the bar.
Chippenham should have opened the scoring on eleven minutes as Joe Parker’s chip over the keeper hit the bar and bounced down to Matt McClure but from close in he was unable to convert.
Taunton cleared and won a free kick which ended with another former player Ross Stearn putting the visitors ahead.
On eighteen minutes a Taunton clearance hit McClure and rebounded to keeper Jack Bycroft.
Eight minutes later a Chippenham corner saw Tom Mehew’s effort blocked as were follow-up efforts from McClure and Craig Fasanmade as the ball was scrambled away.
A further corner a minute later saw Caine Bradbury’s shot blocked.
On thirty three minutes McClure’s luck continued to be out as Bycroft blocked his shot as was his follow-up effort.
Chippenham’s pressure finally paid off on thirty four minutes when a corner was bundled home by Will Richards.
Before the break former Bluebird Jay Foulston headed wide whilst a Mehew shot was blocked and Alex Bray’s follow-up shot was deflected over by Wannell.
HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 1-1 Taunton Town
Chippenham took only six minutes of the second half to finally take the lead as McClure scored his first Bluebird goal from open play with a superb strike.
Foulston again headed straight at Henry whilst Bradbury’s effort was blocked whilst McClure shot wide following a corner.
Midway through the half a Chippenham corner saw Bycroft block the ball on the line.
Chippenham extended their lead on sixty six minutes as Fasanmade drove into the box on and fired home.
A rare Taunton attack on seventy two minutes almost saw them claw a goal back as Nick McCootie, another former Bluebird, crossed to fellow substitute Dylan Morgan who hit the post.
A Stearn free kick was off target whilst a Cameron Evans shot was blocked by Henry as Taunton looked for a way back.
McCootie’s eighty fifth minute shot was blocked whilst in stoppage time the final action saw Chippenham substitute Joe Hanks’ shot saved.
FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 3-1 Taunton Town
Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Alex Bray, Ollie Tomlinson, Will Richards, Tom Mehew, Luke Russe, Caine Bradbury, Joe Parker (Joe Hanks 76), Craig Fasanmade, Matt McClure (Owen Windsor 80) subs not used: Arron Simpson, Alfie Santos, Will King
Taunton: Jack Bycroft, Jay Foulston, Jake Wannell, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis (Nick McCootie 72), Joe Guest, Ross Stearn, Cameron Evans, Dave Sims-Burgess (Dylan Morgan 64), Lee Lucas subs not used: Dan Ball, Zac Smith
Ref: Daniel Lamport
Ass Refs: Said Ouchene, Ryan Saward
Match report by Wil Hulbert
