EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION: Frome Town 2 Chippenham Town 0 (From Wiltshire Times)

EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION: Frome Town 2 Chippenham Town 0

7:24pm Monday 27th August 2012 in Sport News By Dan Barnes

Chippenham Town lost the derby spoils to Frome Town earlier today as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at their local rivals.

The Bluebirds struggled to break down a resilient Robins side in the second period and were ultimately undone at Badgers Hill.

Ex-Chippenham striker Lewis Powell gave his old team a timely reminder of his threat just two minutes in when he curled a superb free-kick onto the crossbar.

Then, after 12 minutes, Darren Perrin’s side took the lead when Powell knocked the ball down to another former Bluebird, Sam Allison, who played in Matt Smith.

The Frome midfielder beat the offside trap and took his shot early, beating Chippenham’s Josh Dempsey with a low finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

Midway through the half, Dempsey had to produce a quick reaction save to palm away a goalbound effort following a scramble in the area while Dean Evans headed over from a corner.

Alan Griffin shot wide with five minutes of the first half remaining while at the other end, Smith ghosted in and headed wide from Alex Lapham’s free-kick.

Then in the 42nd minute, Chippenham came close to levelling matters when Brandon Barnes fired an excellent free-kick towards the right corner but Frome keeper Darren Chitty responded with an equally impressive diving save.

Nathan Rudge’s side finally came into the game in the second period and early on, Shaun Lamb whipped a teasing ball across the danger area.

Luke Ballinger also fired a powerful set-piece into the Robins’ box but again, none of his teammates could manage to get the final touch.

Despite dominating possession, the Bluebirds struggled to create many clear-cut chances as the Frome defence remained resilient.

But in the 69th minute, Steve Casey did head goalwards after Scott Rogers knocked on a Barnes delivery, but his effort was straight into the hands of Chitty.

Then a minute later, the Robins delivered the decisive suckerpunch on the counter-attack.

Substitute Nat Auckland got in down the right flank and pulled the ball back to Lapham, who had time to steady himself before side-footing calmly into the bottom corner.

Chippenham’s Dempsey had to punch away a volley from Auckland in the closing stages as Frome shut the door and took all the three points.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Josh Dempsey, Toby Osman (Tom Seery 79), Shaun Lamb, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Alex Kite, Luke Ballinger, Scott Rogers, Alan Griffin, Brandon Barnes (Dave Gilroy 72), Lee Phillips (Dean Griffiths 28).

Subs not used: Josh Egan, Iain Harvey.

FROME TOWN: Darren Chitty, Dave Thompson, Greg Tindle, Dean Flockton, Tom Evans, Alex Lapham, Matt Smith (Claudio Herbert 79), Dean Evans, Lewis Powell, Sam Allison (Nat Auckland 61), Aaron Ledgister.

Subs not used: Ryan Bennett, Ed Quelch, Jamie Lyon.

Attendance: 429