MATCH REPORT: Oxford City 1-1 Chippenham Town – Sat 11th December 2021

The Bluebirds came away from Oxford City with a very impressive draw (it proved to be the third away draw at the current top three sides, the others being Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet).

The Bluebirds came away from Oxford City with a very impressive draw (it proved to be the third away draw at the current top three sides, the others being Dartford and Dulwich Hamlet).

The point was enough to see the Hoops climb to the top of National South.

Chippenham dominated the opening half but fell behind just before the break before a sensational equalizer from Alefe Santos deservedly put the Bluebirds on level terms although they were indebted to keeper Will Henry for saving Josh Ashby’s penalty.

Chippenham were the first to show with Harry Parsons unable to convert a sixth minute cross from Santos.

On the quarter hour mark Ricky Agiar’s shot was too close to keeper Ben Dudzinski as was an effort from Oluwasegun Lawal.

Parsons then had two efforts with his first being saved and his second going wide. Oxford’s first real chance came on twenty one minutes when Nana Owusu’s cross was headed over by Joe Iaciofano.

Luke Russe then went close after a cross from Danny Greenslade whilst at the other end  Iaciofano fired wide from a Zac McEachran ball.

Parsons then saw his shot on the turn turned behind by Dudzinski. Lawal was again thwarted by the home keeper before the same player headed wide from Greenslade’s cross.

As Chippenham continued to make the running Kieran Parselle headed over from Joe Hanks’ cross.

Oxford then applied pressure themselves as Ashby failed to trouble Henry, whilst Harry Bradbury’s shot was blocked by Parselle.

Then following good build-up play Agiar fired over the bar, before the Hoops took the lead on forty four minutes as Iaciofano crossed for Bradbury to convert. The second half was a far more even affair with fewer clear cut chances.

However, on fifty nine minutes Santos let fly from thirty yards and his left-footed screamer flew into the net.

Parselle’s headed effort from a Hanks free kick was saved, whilst a shot from Ashby was blocked.

On seventy four minutes Parselle fouled Iaciofano in the area but Ashby’s resultant penalty was brilliantly saved by Henry..

Josh Davies’s shot failed to find the target before substitute Dan Griffiths was sent free but with only the keeper to beat he went to ground but with Chippenham calling for a penalty Griffiths was booked for simulation.

Both sides had one further chance before the final whistle with Owusu’s shot being blocked whilst Russe’s effort went over the bar.

Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray, (Ethan Hill 90), Danny Greenslade, Will Richards, Kieran Parselle, Luke Russe, Joe Hanks, Alefe Santos, Ricky Aguiar, Harry Parsons, Oluwasegun Lawal (Dan Griffiths 66)

subs not used: Joel Smedley, Harrison Lea, Harry Warwick

Oxford: Ben Dudzinski, Zico Asare, George Harmon, Josh Ashby, Daniel Matzuzaka, Reece Fleet, Zac McEachran (Jacob Bancroft 86), Nana Owusu, Harry Bradbury (Elliot Benyon 86), Joe Iaciofano, Jack Davies (Lewis Coyle 83) subs not used: Alex Grantham, Alfie Potter

Ref: R. Holmes

Match Report By Wil Hulbert