We have earned our first point of the month following our 1-1 draw away to Chippenham Town last Saturday at Hardenhuish Park.
The result was far more positive than our outing in Wiltshire last season, when we conceded a stoppage-time penalty to lose the match 3-2 versus the same opponents.
This time round our draw was achieved by newcomer Harry Parsons, whose signing was announced by the club last Thursday.
The forward netted against his former club in the 51st minute following a delicious through-ball from Dan Roberts.
Before Parsons’ equaliser, the hosts had been leading for 32 minutes, Tom Mehew scoring the opener for his side.
We were unfortunate not to have found a winner following a thunderous strike from Brandon Goodship in the second half, as the match finished one goal apiece.
This puts us further down the National League South table, in 19th-place, one point above the drop zone.
However, our performance more than proved that we are more than capable of climbing up towards safety.
Bobby Wilkinson made four changes from our last game, a 2-0 defeat away to Hendon in the Isuzu FA Trophy.
Besides Parsons’ debut, in came Jordon Thompson in the place of the suspended Calvin Brooks.
Joel Rollinson and Charlie Rowan were also brought in for captain Tom Bearwish and Elliot Bolton respectively.
The hosts would have control of the ball for much of the game’s opening minutes, Aaron Amadi-Holloway being the standout player as we struggled to find our groove.
The Chippenham centre-back was effortlessly gliding with the ball, finding players with his line-breaking passing.
It was perhaps no surprise that The Bluebirds would draw first blood inside just 19 minutes.
Mehew coolly slotted past Gerard Benfield following an accurate through-ball from Ed Williams, despite Thompson nearly closing him down.
The goal all started from a crunching tackle by Dan Ellison, who then found Williams with a short pass.
The defender completely wiped out Roberts near the halfway line, although was judged by referee Ashley Clarke to have won enough of the ball for play to continue.
Chippenham would appear in control as the half ticked on, posing further threat just 10 minutes after Mehew’s opener.
Nat Williams lofted the ball down the left-hand side towards Freddie Grant, who would attempt a low-driven cross.
None of our players managed to intercept the ball as it landed straight towards Caine Bradbury, who was handed the ball just outside the box.
His curling strike had to be pushed away by Benfield, before Teddy Howe kicked the ball against Mehew for a goal kick.
This incident appeared to be a wake-up call for our players, our first notable chance coming just three minutes afterwards.
Will Henry needed to be alert to stop Roberts’ header from finding the net, which came after a brilliant cross from Brandon Goodship near the corner flag.
Rowan’s header just two minutes later was unable to find the target, although his opportunity was the result of some fast one-touch play.
Roberts would come close again just two minutes before added time, the forward running towards goal following a clever interception by Parsons.
Ellison perhaps did enough to prevent the forward from scoring, who ended up firing a tame shot into the hands of Henry.
There would be no more chances in the first half, as we headed down the tunnel a goal behind.
However, our promising play following the half-hour mark suggested that this game was far from over for either side.
It wouldn’t take long for our fortunes to come good in the second half, after Parsons was one-on-one with Henry just six minutes in.
Making no mistake, the newcomer showed his prowess in front of goal and slid the ball underneath the helpless Chippenham keeper as we drew level.
Parsons’ goal was in fact his first shot of the game.
After the equaliser, we would be the side in control.
However, this was not before we would be forced to scramble the ball clear following a Chippenham corner.
Then came the hour mark, when Goodship very nearly produced a ‘goal of the season contender’ from long-range.
With no-one closing him down, he produced a thunderous strike, furiously smacking against the crossbar.
Bearwish would then come close 10 minutes afterwards.
A defence-splitting pass from Rowan left Bearwish just inside the box with enough time to shoot.
He perhaps would have put us in the lead had it not been for a brilliant save from Henry, who managed to reach his palm towards Bearwish’s powerful strike.
Our final chance of note came with just five minutes of regular time to go, this time from substitute Ezio Touray.
The forward’s half-volley fired just over the bar, much to the relief of the home supporters anxiously watching on.
We were unfortunately unable to create any late clear-cut chances, as the game finished one goal apiece.
Following the game, Wilkinson praised the team’s ability to “bounce back” from their previous two losses against Hendon and Torquay United.
His players next face Dover Athletic at home this Saturday [15.00 GMT], who find themselves at the foot of the table.
Match report
By Jack Webb
