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Sean Seavill

Chippenham Town 4, Gloucester City 1

CHIPPENHAM Town bounced back from their Good Friday defeat to Merthyr Tydfil with an emphatic victory against promotion rivals Gloucester City at Hardenhuish Park.

The Bluebirds went behind early on but after Ross Adams equalised, two half-volleys from Sean Seavill and a late strike from Luke Gullick gave the home side a 4-1 win.

Kye Holly and Sam Allison were both missing and Luke Prince was dropped to the bench, while Aaron Cornwall, David Pratt and Luke Gullick were all brought in.

Gloucester opened the scoring on nine minutes when Lee Smith scuffed a shot from 15 yards and after Matt Rose helped it on, Will Morford turned in from close range.

Kevin Halliday had the Bluebirds' first effort on 12 minutes when he hit a swerving, dipping effort that had goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer briefly worried.

Seconds later Chris Snoddy scrambled to stop Sykes' 25-yard free kick after it looked as if the ball was going to squirm under him.

Marc Richards headed over the bar from a corner before Seavill saw his shot repelled by Kevin Sawyer at the other end.

Chippenham equalised on 26 minutes when Cornwall's low free kick from the right caused havoc and Ross Adams poked home from close range.

Sykes tried an audacious 35-yard effort seconds after the restart and Morford saw his clear opportunity well saved by Snoddy.

On 36 minutes an attempted cross from Morford dropped onto the roof of the net and seconds later Pratt's near-post drive was batted away by Sawyer.

With the interval minutes away Sean Seavill put the Bluebirds ahead when he raced through and he drove his half volley confidently into the right corner.

Chippenham began the second half positively and Seavill had a free kick saved after Kevin Halliday was fouled on the edge of the area.

Iain Harvey found Cornwall with a superb cross-field pass minutes later but the winger fluffed his shot with Sawyer speeding out to meet him.

On 55 minutes Scott Lye had a back-header stopped by Sawyer and Morford fired wide from 20 yards soon after.

Gloucester were fortunate to keep the score at 2-1 when the ball was sliced twice in the area and came to Seavill, whose shot was cleared off the line.

On 64 minutes an error from Richards let in Seavill down the right but his centre was just ahead of the unmarked Gullick.

Chippenham extended the lead in bizarre fashion on 68 minutes with goalkeeper Snoddy claiming a rare assist.

With Halliday injured, Snoddy attempted to kick out of play but sliced completely and the ball went down the centre of the field.

Seavill latched onto Snoddy's kick to smash in another half-volley and make it 3-1.

Snoddy parried away an effort from Jack Pitcher on 78 minutes before Gullick saw his far-post drive blocked by Sawyer.

In the third minute of injury time Gullick got the goal he deserved when Seavill squared and the forward lashed into the right corner.

Substitute Gary Funnell could have made it five with seconds left but Sawyer denied him when one-on-one.

Chippenham boss Adie Mings said: "It was a bit of getting your own back after they destroyed us at their place.

"It could have been more but their keeper played really well.

"I was pleased that we bounced back after Friday's game. The performance was pleasing as well as the result.

"Gloucester have been in fantastic form for the last two or three months, they have beaten a lot of the top sides and it was important to win the game."

4:03pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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