MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 3-3 Taunton Town | National League South | Tuesday 5th September 2023

The jury is probably out on whether this was one point gained or two points dropped, being 2-0 up after twenty minutes and 3-1 to the good after eighty one minutes and finishing 3 all probably suggests the latter, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

On twenty eight minutes Freddie Grant was booked for taking too long over a throw in and less than a minute later received a second yellow for a high tackle meaning Chippenham had to play the remaining 72 minutes (including stoppage time) with ten men.

They held out valiantly but a hamstring injury to substitute Craig Fasanmade saw him have to leave the pitch after just twelve minutes and on a hot sultry night the visitors scored on eighty seven minutes and in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Taunton were the first to show with Dave Sims-Burgess’ shot on three minutes going wide and a minute later Will Henry saved a low shot from Dylan Morgan.

Chippenham took the lead on nine minutes when Luke Spokes’ corner was cleared to Nat Williams and his long distance shot deflected off a defender and past Dan Lavercombe.

The Bluebirds doubled their lead on twenty minutes when Owen Windsor waltzed through the Peacocks defence and his shot across Lavercombe was heading for the net but turned in by Ollie Chamberlain.

Grant then received his marching orders and put the Bluebirds on the back foot.

On thirty two minutes Henry turned aside an effort from Morgan and a minute later Austen Booth headed over.

Before the break Zac Smith’s cross saw Cameron Evans head over and Morgan shot wide whilst Lee Lucas shot over and former Bluebird Nat Jarvis headed over.

HALF TIME: Chippenham Town 2-0 Taunton Town

After the break Evans’ looping header was held by Henry whilst Morgan fired wide.

Taunton halved the deficit on fifty four minutes as Jarvis headed home from close range and a minute later Jake Evans shot over.

Midway through the half Sims-Burgess headed over and on seventy five minutes a goalmouth scramble saw the Bluebirds twice rebuff goalbound efforts. Substitute Ross Stearn fired high and wide on seventy seven minutes whilst Taunton’s Evans fired over.

Chippenham scored a superb third on eighty three minutes as Windsor found Spokes who thundered a shot past Lavercombe.

Former Bluebird Stearn pulled a goal back on eighty seven minutes.

With seven minutes of stoppage time signalled Jake Evans scuffed his shot to Lavercombe whilst substitute Callum Dolman shot straight at Henry.

On ninety six minutes Chamberlain volleyed home the equalizer whilst a minute later Windsor could have won the game for the Bluebirds but Lavercombe came out top in a one on one.

FULL TIME: Chippenham Town 3-3 Taunton Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Freddie Grant, Aaron Amadi-Holloway (Luke Haines 64), Nat Williams, Mal Nicholls, Jake Evans, Alex Bray, Luke Spokes, Matt McClure (Craig Fasanmade 59) [Marcel Lewis 71], Owen Windsor subs not used: Leighton Tuodolo, Will King

Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Nick Grimes (Ross Stearn 75), Austen Booth, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis (Nick mcCootie 64), Zac Smith, Cameron Evans, Dave Sims-Burgess, Dylan Morgan, Lee Lucas (Callum Dolman 75) subs not used: Rabby Minzamba, Marcus Day

Ref: Oliver Mackey

Ass Ref: Daniel Spyer, Mitchell Terry