MATCH REPORT: St. Albans City 0-2 Chippenham Town | National League South | Saturday 23rd November 2024

The Bluebirds recorded a comprehensive victory in Hertfordshire where the home side failed to produce the performance that a change in manager often brings – they sacked David Noble in midweek.

Chippenham were the first to show on three minutes as Tyrone Johnson’s effort ended with Tom Mehew’s header skimming the bar.

Nine minutes later Zane Banton, so often a thorn in the Bluebirds side, dribbled into the area but fired over.

On the quarter hour Alex Bray’s cross found Owen-Evans whose shot was blocked and his follow-up effort was cleared.

On twenty minutes a measured lofted ball from Matt Lench found Jack James who netted but his effort was ruled out for off side.

Just after the half hour a Bluebirds corner found Luke Haines but his effort went straight at keeper Michael Johnson.

David Longe-King came to the Saints rescue with a timely tackle on Leone Gravata.

Chippenham opened the scoring in the first minute of stoppage time as Gravata’s floating cross was not dealt with by the Saints defence and Harry Parsons who made no mistake.

HALF TIME: St. Albans City 0-1 Chippenham Town

After the break the lively Banton’s shot from inside the area hit Shaun Jeffers.

Gravata then cut into the area and Johnson palmed away his shot.

Chippenham doubled their lead just after the hour when Gravata neatly beat two defenders near the corner flag and his cross saw Mehew step over the ball enabling Parsons to fire into the top corner.

A quarter of an hour from time Will Henry made a great save on the line to deny Jeffers who was again thwarted by the Bluebirds’ stopper seven minutes later when his shot from a narrow angle was saved.

FULL TIME: St. Albans City 0-2 Chippenham Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray (Will Dawes 67), Luke Haines, Nat Williams, Tyreke Johnson (Aaron Amadi-Holloway 88), Tom Mehew (Caine Bradbury 90), Luke Spokes, Joe Andrews, Tom Owen-Evans (Will King 78), Harry Parsons (Matt McClure 78), Leone Gravata subs not used: none

St Albans: Michael Johnson, Jack James (James Sweet 70), David Longe-King, Alfie Payne (Ken Charles 70), Shaun Jeffers, Zane Banton, Finley Wilkinson (Josh Castiglione 58), Joe Partington, Matt Lench, Dom Hutchinson (Tafari Moore 18), Phillip Chinedu (Nick Ralfe 70) subs not used: none

Ref: N. Dunn

Att: 1123