AFTER the opening ten minutes promised a goal fest this match fizzled out into a non-event as both teams struggled to overcome a bobbly pitch and the respective defences.

Iain Harvey was harshly penalised for hands on four minutes when the ball was driven at him from close quarters. Danny Kelly’s resulting free kick found the top corner giving keeper Kent Kauppinen no chance.

Four minutes later parity was restored when Michael Pook’s free kick from wide on the right was firmly headed home by Jordan Roberts.

Cambridge then saw a trio of off target efforts from Buster Harradine, Duran Roberts and Josh Dawkin. Chippenham replied with a Charlie Griffin free kick that hit the defensive wall and a further Griffin effort when Ashan Holgate headed on for him to lob Zak Barrett but the ball hit the bar.

After the break Pook’s 25-yard free kick was too high. On 68 minutes Alex Ferguson’s cross saw Griffin get the faintest of headers and Barrett just managed to get down to smother the ball.

Cambridge substitute Chris Bacon did his best to liven up proceedings as he was twice off target inside a minute.

Chippenham replied with a fierce drive from James Guthrie that was beaten out by Barrett and an off target shot from fellow substitute Jack Odam.

The match petered out with Bacon firing over and Odam’s shot on the turn going straight to Barrett.

Chippenham: Kauppinen, McCormack, Beeden, Roberts (Guthrie 72), Preece, Ferguson, Pook, Griffin (Phillips 83), Holgate, Harvey (Odam 74).

Sub not used: Tindle.

Referee: Kieran Bailey (High Wycombe).

Attendance: 295