MATCH REPORT: Dartford 3-3 Chippenham Town – Sat 6th Nov 2021
Chippenham came away from league leaders Dartford with a more than credible point, as Bluebirds scored three good goals and let slip a couple of other golden chances that could well have brought a win.
Chippenham came away from league leaders Dartford with a more than credible point, as Bluebirds scored three good goals and let slip a couple of other golden chances that could well have brought a win.
The result extends the Bluebirds unbeaten league record away from home to seven matches.
After a couple of long range shots from distance including a Harry Warwick effort that went straight to keeper Dan Wilks it was the hosts who went close as Dan Roberts rounded Will Henry but lost control of the ball whilst Luke Wanadio failed with an effort fallowing a corner whilst Ade Azeez could not take advantage of Jake Jebb’s free kick.
The Bluebirds stunned the home crowd on twenty one minutes when Academy youngster Ethan Hill whipped in a superb low cross for Dan Griffiths to head home at the near post at the same time opening his Chippenham account.
The lively Jebb then found Roberts who shot high whilst Jernade Meade’s cross saw Azeez flick but Henry gathered.
Jebb’s free kick from forty yards out then dipped over the bar. Chippenham replied with Joe Hanks‘s shot from distance being blocked whilst Wanadio shot straight at Henry before finding Roberts but the ball bounced off his shin and out of play.
On forty minutes Ricky Aqiar found Griffiths close in but his effort went over the bar when it looked easier to score.
The miss proved expensive as Dartford went on to score two goals before the break inside two minutes as Azeez headed home from a Jebb cross before Roberts went one on one only to see his effort bounce back to Noor Husin who thumped into the empty net.
The Bluebirds started the second half on the front foot although two set pieces from Hanks proved fruitless. Jebb’s long range effort was then deflected behind.
Chippenham equalized on fifty five minutes when Aqiar’s low free kick went under the wall and although Wilks got a hand to the ball he could not keep it out.
Dartford went on the offensive as they attempted to regain the lead with Husin heading over and Jebb again seeing his shot blocked.
Connor Essam’s weak shot was then easily saved by Henry before the Kent side took the lead on seventy six minutes as Meade’s cross into the box found Kieran Murtagh whose shot saw Henry get a hand to the ball but it came back off an upright and Azeez got the final touch.
Wilks then superbly saved from Griffiths as he spread his body before the final minute of normal time saw substitute Lawal Oluwasegun’s cross find Luke Russe at the far post who scored with a stooping header for his first goal of the season, to earn the Bluebirds a point.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time Henry protected the point as he saved from George Porter.
Chippenham: Will Henry, Harvey Bunker, Ethan Hill, Spencer Hamilton, Will Richards, Callum Gunner (Ross Stearn 85), Luke Russe, Joe Hanks, Dan Griffiths (Alefe Santos 86), Ricky Aqiar, Harry Warwick (Lawal Oluwasegun 73) subs not used: Alefe Santos, Alex Bray, Steve Bayeke
Dartford: Dan Wilks, Jernade Meade, Noor Husin, Connor Essam, Tom Bonner, George Porter, Keiran Murtagh, Dan Roberts (Josh Hill 79), Jack Jebb, Ade Azeez (Emmanuel Sonupe 89), Luke Wanadio (Danny Leonard 85) subs not used: Luke Allen, Michael Kedman
Match Report By Wil Hulbert
