MATCH REPORT: Slough Town 2-2 Chippenham Town | National League South | Saturday 17th February 2024

With ten minutes to go the ten man Bluebirds looked like they would be ending Slough Town’s seventeen match unbeaten home record but these clashes have often produced talking points and Slough scored twice in the final ten minutes to earn a draw. After a series of Slough fouls went unpunished Chippenham received six yellow cards including the sending off of Nat Williams for collecting two yellows.

On six minutes Luke Spokes’ shot was saved by Hugo Sobte a minute later following a brace of Bluebird corners Ed Williams’ shot was blocked.

Slough had two half chances through Christie Ward and another from Leon Chambers-Parillion but Ward’s were wide and Chambers-Parillion’s shot was an easy save for Will Henry.

The Bluebirds opened the scoring from a corner on the quarter hour mark through a header from Aaron Amadi-Holloway who was playing up front as opposed to his usual centre back position.

The ball went over Slough keeper Hugo Sobte who was deputising for regular keeper Dan Lincoln who was on holiday.

Five minutes later Henry was forced to palm away a thirty yard shot from Matt Lench.

A quick free kick from Lench then found Nathan Minhas whose shot went just wide. Seven minutes before the break a Johnny Goddard free kick from the edge of the area was palmed away by Henry.

Ed Williams became the third Bluebird player to be booked after Jem Hewlett and Amadi-Holloway yet Slough committed a series of fouls, including a blatant pull in the area on Ahmadi-Holloway’s shirt before any Chippenham player was booked but incurred no yellow cards.

On forty minutes Lench’s deflected shot was saved by Henry.

Two minutes before the break another Goddard free kick from a central position hit the defensive wall and before the ball could be cleared Lench drew another save from Henry.

In stoppage time Goddard’s shot was deflected for a corner.

HALF TIME: Slough Town 0-1 Chippenham Town

Three minutes after the break Nat Williams became the fourth Bluebird to be booked.

From the resulting free kick Lench’s low shot went wide.

A member of the Bluebirds’ coaching staff then became the fifth Chippenham booking after Freddie Grant was ordered back at a throw-in.

On fifty four minutes Luke Spokes doubled the Bluebirds lead with a superb free kick.

Four minutes later Amadi-Holloway’s shot almost squirmed under Sobte.

Just after the hour mark a Lench corner saw David Ogbonna’s shot just curl over the bar.

Ed Williams then volleyed wide for the Bluebirds.

On sixty five minutes another Spokes free kick cannoned into the cross bar.

On sixty six minutes Nat Williams received his second yellow card and Chippenham were reduced to ten men.

Freddie Grant then had to go off injured to be replaced by Jake Evans.

On eighty minutes Temi Eweka’s shot went straight at Henry, whilst at the other end a Spokes free kick was just wide.

Goddard’s shot then deflected off Eweke straight to Henry.

On eighty three minutes Slough pulled a goal back with a headed effort from Ogbonna.

Slough equalized two minutes later following a corner with a headed effort from Minhas.

Spokes became the sixth booking for the visitors two minutes from time.

In the final minute of normal time Goddard hit a free kick over the bar. Referee Ayrton Hursey added a very generous ten minutes of stoppage time.

In the second minute of added time Goddard’s shot was blocked by Dan Ellison, Henry then blocked a shot from Dan Bayliss.

FULL TIME: Slough Town 2-2 Chippenham Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Eddie Jones, Freddie Grant (Jake Evans 72), Jem Hewlett, Dan Ellison, Nat Williams, Luke Spokes, Will King, Ed Williams (Caine Bradbury 76), Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Craig Fasanmade Matt McClure 90+6) subs not used: Tom Owen-Evans, Tom Mehew

Slough: Hugo Sobte, Josh Jackman, Joe Dandy (Slavi Solly 55), Dan Bayliss, Matt Lench, Nathan Minhas, Johnny Goddard, Christie Ward (Eze Ebuzoeme 76) Leon Chambers-Parillon (Oliver Spicer 72), Temi Eweka, David Ogbonna subs not used: Kian Austin, Freddy Solly, Oliver Spicer

Ref: Ayrton Hursey

Att: 906