Match Report: Chippenham Town (3-2 Pens) 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town – FA Trophy 2nd Rnd – Saturday 18th November 2023

FA Trophy 2nd Round – Saturday 18th November 2023
Chippenham Town (3-2 Pens) 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town Attendance 354
Where: Thornbury Surfacing Stadium, Bristol Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 6LR
Dan Brownlie’s line-up saw a number of enforced changes and went with a line-up of : 1. Paul Strudley, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Kai Hobbs, 4. Michael Atkinson (Capt), 5. Nathan Smart, 6. Alfie Grant, 7. Bradley Wilson, 8. D’Andre Brown, 9. Liam Ferdinand, 10. Paul Hodges, 11. Dan Rowe,
On the bench: Aleksander Kokoska, Harvey Collins, Shane Hollamby, Josh De Lacey-Turner, Jake Impiazzi & Eddie Lazarczuk
Referee – Ross Martin

This FA Trophy match got underway with Stoke attacking the open terraced end and after an initial attack by Chippenham, Stoke start to win possession in midfield and push forward and a shot from Paul Hodges goes just past the right-hand post.

Hodges then wins a tackle just inside their half and a neat move gives Bradley Wilson a chance to race down the right wing and his superb low cross is blocked out for a corner. From the corner, the ball is cleared to Hodges on the edge of the penalty area, and he lets fly a shot that deflects off Nathan Smart past their keeper and defenders and into the net GOAL! Chippenham Town 0 – 1 Basingstoke Town (Smart 11 mins)
Stoke continue to push forward and Rowe has a shot that is deflected out for a corner. Michael Atkinson gets his head to the corner kick, but it flies away, but Stoke retrieve the ball and find Wilson down the right and a back heel does his marker, and we break down the wing and a cross goes in that again Chippenham have to knock out for a corner. This time it’s an easy clearance.

Further attacks over the next few minutes after Hodges & Atkinson win tackles in midfield result in a shot from Kai Hobbs saved by the keeper and a cross that’s headed clear.

Twenty minutes in and the homeside win a free-kick about eight yards outside our penalty area, but the free-kick is blocked and we clear to midfield.

Stoke continue to win most 50/50 tackles, and a shot from Liam Ferdinand goes over the bar.
We playing that well Hobbs is playing with one boot for a minute or so.
The next attack on the half-hour has Michael Atkinson’s shot force a full-length diving save out of the Chippenham keeper.

We attack again and Ferdinand is inside their penalty area and his shot is blocked away for yet another corner. The corner is cleared.

Chippenham have the next few minutes of possession but tackles by Wilson at the back then the new-boy Alfie Grant put a stop to their attacks.

Our next attack has D’Andre Brown go past two Chippenham players to the by-line then pulls the ball back to Hodges, whose shot flies over the bar.

Now deep into added-time, Chippenham attack down the right, but their cross flies harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
The referee blow the halftime whistle and Stoke deservedly head into the break with the lead.
Halftime Score: Chippenham Town 0 v 1 Basingstoke Town
With no changes by Stoke at halftime, the game gets back underway, and it’s Stoke who create the first attack as a neat passing move between three Stoke players allows Hodges to hit a shot that forces a good save out of their keeper.
We attack again on fifty minutes and Atkinson beats two players, then finds Hodges whose shot is blocked away.

Chippenham then attack down the right, and a shot from just outside the area flies off the crossbar and we are able to scramble the rebound away.

Atkinson wins two further tackles, then sends Kai Hobbs away, with a one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot is straight at the keeper who saves.

Chippenham then respond by spending the next two minutes in and around our penalty area, but a great block by Johnson-Schuster and a shot over the bar ends these attacks.
Chippenham continue to press and Grant heads the ball clear, as we head into the final twenty minutes.

The non-stop singing by the Stoke fans behind the goal is truly amazing.

Chippenham continue to press and it’s Johnson-Shuster clearing off the line.
Now heading into the final ten minutes of the game, and Chippenham continue to look for the equaliser.

Stoke have a little bit of possession inside Chippenham’s half, but two crosses are blocked.
We then make our first change with Alfie Grant being replaced by Shane Hollamby (86 mins)
We then win a corner following good work from Michael Atkinson, but Chippenham deal with the corner-kick.

The referee has confirmed that there will be a minimum of eight added-minutes.
Further good defensive work from Wilson then D’Andre Brown as we continue to hold our one goal lead.
Stoke are back in Chippenham’s half and a heavy tackle on one of our players sees us win a free-kick. Nothing results from the free-kick.

We make our second change with Dan Rowe being replace by Aleksander Kokoska (97 mins)
We’re still playing on past the eight added-minutes and Chippenham attack again and we initially block the attack away, only for a follow-up shot to find the back of the net. Chippenham 1-1 Basingstoke
The referee restarts the game, then plays a further minute before blowing the full-time whistle, and we go to penalties.

Full-time Score: Chippenham Town 1 v 1 Basingstoke Town
Fasanmade 100 mins                                 Smart 11 mins
Chippenham win 3-2 on Penalties

Match Thought’s
Many fans came to enjoy the day against a National League South side with no expectations, but they saw a Stoke side battle for the whole game, have the better of the possession and chances and simply cruel fate kicks us in the teeth. Superb effort by the whole side and new-signing Alfie Grant and how good was Michael Atkinson!
Up Next:
We return to the league and a tough match-up against third-placed Chesham next Saturday (25th).

Match Report by Martin French..