MATCH REPORT: Taunton Town 1-2 Chippenham Town | National League South | Wednesday 20th March 2024

Due to a water-logged pitch this was Taunton’s first game at home for over six weeks and the sand-covered playing surface was still far from ideal. Chippenham dominated the first half and deservedly went in at the break a goal to the good. After the break Taunton came back into the game and equalised eight minutes after the interval but the Bluebirds hit the winning goal in stoppage time through substitute Pele Kouisseoue.

Taunton were first to show as Ollie Chamberlain found former Bluebird Ross Stearn whose effort was off target.

The Bluebirds then put the home side under pressure as Ed Williams’ fifth minute long distance shot was deflected behind for a fruitless corner. 

Three minutes later Craig Fasanmade’s shot went straight at keeper Lloyd Irish.

Chippenham took the lead on twenty five minutes when Dan Ellison’s long diagonal ball found Luke Spokes who fired a left-footed shot home.

Two minutes later Fasanmade was just off target with a headed effort.

On thirty four minutes a Taunton corner saw Chamberlain’s effort deflected behind for a corner.

A further corner followed but Ellison cleared.

A long Taunton throw ended with a Zac Smith shot being blocked with Chamberlain’s shot going over the bar.

Before the break Smith’s cross found Louis Slough whose headed effort went straight at Will Henry.

HALF TIME: Taunton Town 0-1 Chippenham Town

After the break Tom Owen-Evans’ shot was blocked in the opening minute of the half.

At the other end Stearn found Chamberlain whose shot was too weak to trouble Henry.

On fifty three minutes a Taunton corner saw Chamberlain’s shot from the edge of the area go through a crowd of bodies and find the net.

The Bluebirds responded with a shot from Ed Williams but Irish easily gathered.

On the hour mark Fasanmade’s shot was blocked by Nick Grimes at the expense of a corner.

A long throw from Luke Haines on sixty five minutes saw Fasanmade’s shot on the turn from inside the six yard box bring a superb save from Irish.

Just past the midway mark Zac Bell saved his side as he took the ball off Tyreke Johnson’s toes.

On seventy nine minutes Callum Dolman’s shot from thirty yards was saved by Henry.

Substitute Seb Bolton then headed straight at Henry. At the other end Irish came out on top against Fasanmade in a one on one.

In the second minute of stoppage time Tom Mehew picked out Kouisseoue who scored with only his second touch to bring the three points back to Wiltshire.

FULL TIME: Taunton Town 1-2 Chippenham Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Dan Ellison, Luke Haines, Tom Mehew, Luke Spokes, Will King, Ed Williams (Pele Kouisseoue 89), Tyreke Johnson (Alex Bray 85), Tom Owen-Evans (Nat Williams 76), Craig Fasanmade subs not used: Jem Hewlett, Mal Nicholls

Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Zac Bell, Nick Grimes, Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Zac Smith (Rabby Tabu Minzamba 66), Cameron Evans, Callum Dolman, Louis Slough (Marcus Day 57), Nat Jarvis, Ross Stearn (Seb Bolton 78) subs not used: Jaden Brown, Evander Grubb

Ref: Gary Parsons

Ass Refs: Ryan Cornelius, Aidan Madden