A LATE goal condemned Chippenham Town to a 3-2 defeat at Banbury United in their latest pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Last season the Oxfordshire side inflicted two of only five league defeats on the Southern League Premier Division title-winning Bluebirds and an undeserved late goal saw them stretch that run to three.

The Puritans were the first to show with Darren Pond’s second-minute shot from the edge of the area going just wide and four minutes later Sam Humpreys’s speculative 35-yard shot was off target.

Chippenham then created two chances of their own as Scott Donnelly laid the ball to Alex Ferguson and his thunderous 35-yard drive was just wide.

Andy Sandell's shot was then palmed over his own head by on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Jasko Keranovic.

The 19 year old appeared to think the ball was going out as he could only stand motionless as it looped up onto a post.

Banbury took a 12th-minute lead in fortuitous circumstances as Greg Tindle slipped on the greasy surface allowing Jefferson Louis to cross. Fellow centre back Will Richards stuck out a leg but could only divert the ball into his own net.

Banbury’s Adrian Boisos shot high from way out whilst at the other end Dean Evans saw his shot blocked. From the resulting Scott Donnelly corner the ball fell to Tindle whose measured shot was palmed down by Keranovic.

James Rae then held a Louis header whilst Donnelly pirouetted but his shot was deflected behind. Donnelly took the resulting flag kick himself and Richards headed wide.

Just past the half hour Sandell's cross was met by Evans whose volley flew wide. Chippenham equalised on 34 minutes when a long ball forward found Sandell out wide on the right and his low cross was side-footed home by Josh Morgan-Williams.

Before the interval Charlie Hawtin’s cross was brought down by Louis who smashed a close range shot onto the bar.

At the other end Evans got too far under Donnelly’s free kick and he headed high.

The Bluebirds made seven changes at the start of the second period, one of those, Chris Allen saw his 47th-minute volley saved whilst at the other end Jack Self shot high and wide.

Chippenham took the lead on 49 minutes when Sandell's cross was played on by Donnelly to Dave Pratt who side-footed home.

Banbury equalised on 56 minutes when the away defence only half cleared a corner and Self crossed for Pond to head beyond Jason Matthews.

Sandell then tried to bend his shot around Keranovic but the ball went just wide, Pratt's shot was deflected onto a post and fell agonisingly short of Sandell. Matt Jones then fired wide whilst Donnelly’s shot was held by the 19-year-old keeper.

Pratt's cross on 76 minutes as the Bluebirds continued to threaten found Sandell whose shot was blocked by the Baggies’ youngster. Luke Carnell then charged down a shot from Pratt and Jones’s effort was blocked.

Banbury substitute Ryan McDonald saw his shot from out wide go just past the far post, before the Puritans winning goal came on 88 minutes when Matthews’s attempted clearance sold Tindle short and he committed a foul on the edge of the area.

The resulting free kick saw Louis expertly bend a low free kick around the wall and beyond the reach of Matthews.

Chippenham first half: Rae, Bowman, Beeden, Pook, Tindle, Richards, Ferguson, Donnelly, Morgan-Williams, Sandell, Evans.

Chippenham second half: Matthews, Cooper, Felix, Baggridge, Tindle, Richards, Allen Donnelly, Pratt, Sandell, Jones.

Banbury: Keranovic, Johnson, Bradbury, Boitos (Nash 46), Carnell, Pond (McKnight 71), Hastings, Self (Brown 71), Louis, Humphreys (McDonald 78), Peake-Pijnen (Singh 75).

Referee: Carl Henry.

Attendance: 136