Ashley sent off as run is ended

2:04pm Friday 10th October 2008

Gloucester City 2, Chippenham Town 0

CHIPPENHAM Town’s five game unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday when they lost 2-0 away at Gloucester City in the Southern League Premier Division.

The Bluebirds’ unbeaten run had stretched back to September 13 when they beat Banbury 2-0 in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, but that ended in front of a crowd of 380 at the Corinium Stadium.

Chippenham had to play 80 minutes of the game with only ten men after Ashley Williams was sent off following a tussle with Tigers’ striker Jack Pitcher, who escaped with a caution.

Chippenham boss Adie Mings felt the decision by referee Paul Hobday spoiled the game.

He said: “Going down to ten men early on didn’t help our cause.

“I couldn’t quite see what happened from where I was, but they both appeared to go for the ball and got tangled up.

“Then they were pulling on each other’s shirts and I saw the referee give Ashley a red card and their lad got a yellow card, which was quite intriguing to say the least.

“When it’s that early in the game unless there’s been a serious case of foul play then I think the ref should give two yellow cards and use his common sense because once you start sending players off its ruins the spectacle of the game and gives one side an advantage.”

Chippenham’s ten men found it difficult to clear their lines in the pouring rain and strong wind, and in the 25th minute they went a goal behind when Pitcher’s shot deflected off Chippenham goal keeper Chris Snoddy from six yards out and found its way into the net.

Five minutes later Gloucester defender Ashley Thomas had a chance to double his side’s lead from an inswinging corner but his header drifted wide of the goal.

Chippenham had their own chances in the first period with Kevin Halliday missing the target from close range and Ross Adams seeing his header cleared off the line from Halliday’s corner as Ming’s men went in 1-0 behind at half time.

The Tigers sealed the win in the 72nd minute after an unfortunate own goal from Chippenham defender Cortez Belle.

The 25-year-old inadvertently sliced the ball into his own net as he tried to clear a cross by Gloucester substitute Luke Ballinger.

The ball sailed past Snoddy and into the net to make it 2-0.

The only chance for the Bluebirds in the second half was a blocked shot by Sean Seavill as Gloucester dominated the game.

Snoddy kept the score down with three saves in one-on-one situations late on, but then injured his knee after a collision with team-mate Scott Lye nine minutes from time.

Mings felt his side’s recent heroics in the FA Cup against Truro had taken its toll on his players.

He said: “All in all there were some good performances from our players but there were some who had off days, and that could be down to the players’ efforts in recent games.

“I felt our exertions at the weekend and the two games against Truro in the FA Cup affected the players both physically and mentally.

“Whereas, Gloucester we’re coming off of a ten day break, which obviously helped them.

“The conditions were also horrendous and that didn't make for a great spectacle.”

The result leaves Chippenham in 16th place in the Southern League Premier Division.

Their next game in the league is at Hardenhuish Park against Clevedon Town on Tuesday night.