Dartford v Chippenham Town

Report

Josh Hill scored an 87th minute equaliser to earn a point for Dartford on Saturday afternoon against a stern Chippenham Town side.

The Darts had the majority of the play in the opening 8 minutes and had the first chance of the game through Cameron Brodie, the Darts midfield skipping past two Town players and unleashing a drive from 25 yards but saw his effort sail just past the post.

The first change of the afternoon for Dartford was forced on Manager Steve King after Mark Onyemah seemed to pull his hamstring mid-way through the first half, Josh Hill was his replacement.

However, on 24 minutes Chippenham took the lead, a free-kick taken by Whelan found it’s way through to Parselle, who had the composure to bring it down and convert it beyond Mark Smith in the Darts goal.

Dartford didn’t shy away though, and on 26 minutes they had a golden chance, wonderful play down the right hand side see Gibbons receive it who slid a wonderful ball into the box, and with McQueen running on to it, looked a certain goal but the forward couldn’t quite get enough on it to convert it home.

On 41 minutes, Dartford went close again, and it was through that man Gibbons, the right-back charged down the right hand side, cut back and unleashed a strike but fortunately for Chippenham it flashed past Puddy’s post.

With the chances that the Darts had, they couldn’t break down a tough Town defence and went into the break 1-0 down.

The second-half started scrappy with tackles flying in from both Chippenham and Dartford, on 68 minutes it was nearly two for Chippenham, one touch stuff from Town saw Tyler get in behind the Darts defence, with plenty of options to aim at, the right-back flashed it across the face of goal but fortuantely for Darts no one in a blue shirt could divert it home.

On 74 minutes, a double change from Manager Steve King with Hayes replacing Romain and Wanadio replacing Brodie saw the game swing in Dartford’s way. On 83 minutes Wanadio started a Dartford attack near the by-line which saw him cut inside, and with the winger about to pull the trigger saw him brought down by Parselle which happened to be the Town Midfielder second yellow of the game and Chippenham down to ten men.

That seem to spark the Darts into life and on 87 minutes come the equaliser, a one-two between Wanadio and Allen down the left-hand side see the former pass it into the Hill who had the skill to turn and curl a wonderful shot into the corner and beyond Puddy in the Chippenham goal. 1-1

On 89 minutes, the Darts nearly won it, a long ball into the Town box see Bonner bring it down, the centre half brought it down and got a strike away but an outstanding block from Richards saw Town keep the game level.

Dartford huffed and puffed but could not find a way through a tough Chippenham defence and had to settle for a point.

Teams:

Dartford : Smith, Gibbons, Onyemah, Crook, Bonner, Vint, Brodie, Allen, Romain, Pugh, McQueen.

Subs: Hill, Hayes, Wanadio, Wabo, Greenhalgh.

Chippenham Town: Puddy, Tyler, Foulston, Zebroski, Whelan, Gunner, Jarvis, Parselle, McDonald, Chambers, Haines.

Subs: Rigg, Richards, Hopper, Youseff, Pratt.