Tuesday 7th March 2006
errea (Southern League) Cup - Semi-Final
Chippenham Town 1  Bromsgrove Rovers 2
By Phil Baker

Some things are scarcely believable and the result of this match must be one of them. Before travelling nobody would have given Rovers much chance against a team top of the division above them, lost only one match at home all season and Rovers struggling to keep up with mediocre teams in their own league.

On arrival at the ground the news got worse, Steve Hillman was still injured as was Daire Doyle and Chris McHale. Neil Davis had a sick-note for 'flu and Matt Johnson was away on business in Scotland. That left manager Rod Brown with just thirteen fit players, if you include substitute 'keeper Tim Clarke, of which Delton Francis was not 100% match fit after nursing a long-term injury and Luke Reynolds was still recovering from the knock he picked up at Clevedon.

Judging by their team line up I somehow suspect the home side either thought this game was going to be a doddle or more likely their promotion ambitions were a higher priority and a few first team regulars were left out or were on the bench. However there was still enough skill and talent available and they did have home advantage.

Chippenham went for the routine tactic of starting at a fast pace in the hope of finishing off the game in the opening few minutes, every visiting fan's dread to accompany a long journey on a filthy night.

If was not to be though as Rovers soaked up the early pressure and did what they have failed to do for 276 minutes of football and put the ball into the net in the 4 th minute on the first attacking move. Delton Francis skewed a pass from the left that Wayne Dyer allowed to run past him to an unmarked Paul Moore, he then hit a well-placed shot past the advancing Steve Perrin.

Cue for the Bluebirds to wake up and they nearly got the equaliser just 3 minutes later when Darren Wheeler hit a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box that Lee Evans saved with one hand even earning some begrudging tributes from the Hardenhuish Park faithful.

However, Chippenham were clearly not going to admit defeat so early and after a number of promising moves they final broke down the resolute Bromsgrove defence on 16 minutes when Lee Evans parried a Dave Gilroy shot which ran to nippy right-winger Sean Seavill who had no trouble tapping home.

The home side should have taken the lead on 21 minutes when that man Seavill again, glanced a shot off the bar. But if was the visitors playing like there was no tomorrow who forced a corner, this was taken by Kevin Banner who found the head of Exodus Geohaghan, he optimistically back-headed goalwards, Francis had the resulting shot blocked by 'keeper Perrin only for Joe Williams to bang home the re-bound. To add to the goal celebrations we then had a minute of entertainment when Perrin protested that he had been held whilst Williams scored. As parents covered their offspring's' ears to avoid the torrent of abuse, referee Mr Ganfield decided he had heard enough and gave the 'keeper a yellow card for his troubles.

For the remainder of the half we had some very entertaining end-to-end play with Chippenham taking the game to Rovers in an attempt to square things up. They hit the bar again from Matt Rawlins on 26 minutes and nine minutes later Evans again proved what an asset he is to the Midland team when he made a fine save from Gilroy.

Rod Brown could not possibly have rehearsed his half-time talk as tactics for defending a lead could hardly have been considered before the match. However, defend they did and although Chippenham threw everything at their disposal at them including three substitutions and an incredible five minutes added time, the men in Green and White held firm and secured a deserved if improbable victory.

The scoreline could have greater but for Mr Ganfield mouthing 'no way' when Kevin Banner was up-ended in the home penalty area and substitute Luke Reynolds reminded Rovers fans what they has been missing in this game when in added time he put one over the bar and one wide whilst Chippenham were occupied at the other end of the pitch. He came on with just 16 minutes to go for Delton Francis who went off to a round of applause after tying up the home defence and coming close to scoring his first goal for the club on a few occasions.

Chippenham for much of the second half were a bit like Rovers have been this season playing neat football, getting forward but not really threatening the defence. Like Rovers they had an appeal for a penalty turned down on 80 minutes otherwise, they only had a couple of shots on target during the second period such was the ability of the Rovers defence to thwart their ambitions. John Snape organised matters well at the back and barring the two strikers all other players did their bit to stifle the home side. None more than Jimmy Smith who Rod Brown admitted after the game had never played right-back before but looked as if he had been there all his life.

So a memorable scoreline and for the small but enthusiastic band of supporters who travelled down to Wiltshire, forsaking Chelsea on the box had been a wise decision.

Probably best summed up by one fan who suggested that had we played in the Premier Division this season we would probably have won it. What might've been?

Chippenham Town (4-4-2): Steve Perrin, Winter, Alex Stanley, Gary Thorne, Matt McEntegart, Ben Kirk, Sean Seavill (Sam Allison 72 mins), Josh Jeffries (Brigham 83 mins),
Dave Gilroy, Matt Rawlins (Nick Stanley 72 mins), Darren Wheeler.
Subs not used: Snoddy.

Rovers (3-5-2): Lee Evans, Jimmy Smith, Joe Williams, John Snape, Exodus Geohaghan, Riad Erraji, Mark Benbow, Wayne Dyer, Delton Francis (Luke Reynolds 74 mins),
Paul Moore, Kevin Banner.
Subs not used: Steve Hillman, Matt Clarke.

Referee: Mr R Ganfield (Weston-super-Mare)
Attendance: 219