Times Sport

EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION: Leamington 0 Chippenham Town 0

4:50pm Sunday 29th January 2012

CHIPPENHAM'S third visit to the New Windmill Ground went the way of their previous two as the Bluebirds battled for a point, but this draw will be remembered for reasons other than goalmouth action.

The Bluebirds started the game without seven regular players and before half-time Alex Kite and Greg Tindle had limped off to join the casualty list.

As the enforced rearguard action increasingly frustrated the home players and crowd Toby Osman received his second yellow card four minutes from time for an innocuous-looking challenge and as a result he was sent off for the fourth time this season.

In stoppage time, with play at the other end, Ashley Williams and Luke Corbett became embroiled in a heated exchange that continued as the players left the pitch at the end of the game and a home supporter threw a plastic bottle at referee David Avent.

With Chippenham having failed to win in their last five league games and Leamington without a victory in seven it was not surprising that neither goal was really threatened throughout the match.

In the first half Osman twice failed to hit the target, whilst Jon Adams also wasted a golden opportunity for the Brakes. The best chances of the half came in the final minute as Tommy Smith was quickly off his line to throw himself at David Kolodynski’s feet.

The ball cannoned off his body and home skipper Lee Downes failed to find the empty net.

At the other end Dave Gilroy’s strong run to the edge of the six yard box ended with him over-cutting his pass to Alan Griffin and the ball rolled harmlessly behind him.

The second half saw former Bluebird Ian Herring, on loan for a month from Eastleigh, move to centre back having already filled the right back and central midfield roles in the first half.

Leamington were unable to unlock the resolute Chippenham defence although Smith did well to turn Richard Batchelor’s shot around the post and Liam Daly’s low free kick pierced the wall but went just wide.

On the few occasions that Chippenham threatened in the second period Griffin’s shot was turned aside for a corner and former Bluebird keeper Nathan Vaughan held James Guthrie’s near post shot.

Chippenham: Smith, Gullick, Osman, Kite (Lye 21), Casey, Tindle (Williams 44), Herring, Stearn, Gilroy (Lamb 88), Griffin, Guthrie.

Subs not used: Wickens, Austin

FULL MATCH REPORT HERE LATER AND MORE CHIPPENHAM TOWN NEWS IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES

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