A pulsating second half performance and a wonder strike from John Frendo gave City all three points and maintained their unbeaten start to the season while handing Chippenham their first defeat.

Two unbeaten teams came head-to-head at Milton Road, Chippenham boasting a record of four wins and two draws to City’s three wins and three draws.

City’s starting eleven was the same as that which drew at Brackley on Bank Holiday Monday, the visitors opting for a slightly more defensive line up from the side that beat Clevedon 2-0 on Monday afternoon. A free-scoring team, the Bluebirds have recording a 6-1 win and 4-4 draw this season, striker Lewis Powell scoring in each match.

Lee Chaffey challenges

Matching up against City’s mean defence was always going to be an intriguing prospect for both sides and so it proved.

As the sides tested one another out in the first half it looked as if they would cancel one another out as chances were spurned, neither side able to take the initiative.

The Lilywhites certainly had plenty of chances from set pieces, the first on 15 minutes when Frendo’s strike looped off the wall to Neil Midgley who volleyed wide. But as the half progressed, Chippenham found their rhythm and got their passing game going. A flowing move initiated by Shaun Lamb had the defender floating a cross to Ben Highmore whose shot had City fans’ hearts in their mouths as he went perilously close.

But City were also creating their own chances, the best being on 36 minutes when the tireless Gentle scuffed a shot just wide of keeper Chris Snoddy’s left post. In the final minutes of the half, City built up good pressure, Gentle shooting straight at the keeper and Midgley having his hooked cross smothered by the keeper.

If Chippenham had slightly shaded the first half, then the second 45 was another matter.

City snuffed out much of the Bluebirds’ threat after the break, creating a host of chances. On 47 Lee Chaffey’s free kick was chested down by John Frendo to Ashley Fuller who blasted over and on 51 minutes Chaffey’s squeezed shot was somehow smuggled to away for a corner.

But on 59 the Lilywhites made the crucial breakthrough. Neil Midgley did well to win the ball in midfield and feed Gentle. The centre forward put in Frendo who curled a superb shot past Chris Snoddy and into the top left hand corner via the underside of the bar to record a goal of genuine quality.

Having fallen behind, the visitors showed exactly why they were hitherto unbeaten, giving the home defence a challenging time in the last twenty minutes. The introduction of the tricky Jon Davies gave the Bluebirds a new dimension, the forward nearly levelling the scores on 71 when after a dazzling step-over he drove in a low shot that Zac Barrett was quickly down to.

Steve Gentle tries to break through

In the final quarter, neither side was prepared to sit back, both teams trading blows like heavyweight boxers. On 72 minutes Snoddy managed to paw away Gentle’s header for a corner, from which the keeper had to make another crucial block to keep out a goal-bound header.

The action bounced between ends, and such were the attempts on goal it seemed that one must go in before long. Charlie Clough launched a drive from outside the box that went over on 85 minutes then a minute later Gentle went close after substitute Craig Radcliffe left his marker on his backside before sliding an intelligent pass to the centre forward. The number nine saw the chance slip away when his shot was collected by Snoddy. Even at this late stage of the match there were still opportunities for the visitors, Davies heading weakly at Barrett on 89, unable to get any real purchase on his effort.

Could City hold on? The defence stayed as calm as any back four under the circumstances, the midfield remained industrious and the forwards chased and chased. After three minutes of time added on, referee Chris Knowles decided everyone had had quite enough entertainment for the afternoon and to the delight of the City faithful, signalled full-time.

Great credit to both sides who were committed to attacking and entertaining football. This was an open, exciting game played in a great spirit with just one yellow card – a terrific advert for this league. Praise too to the officials who kept the game flowing and allowed players the chance to show their skills.

It would be hard to pick out the outstanding player for City, such was the work ethic within the team. Once again, the back four held firm, despite a couple of ponderous moments which happily for the Lilywhites went unpunished. Zac Barrett once again proved what a reliable keeper he is, dominating the box with quiet authority.

A great all-round performance that was lit up by a moment of magical finishing from John Frendo – a goal that was all the sweeter for the industry that preceded it.

Post match reaction Gary Roberts I was naturally delighted with the performance against a strong Chippenham side. Like ourselves, they came into the game full of confidence having not been beaten this season, so we knew we were going to be in for a strong test.... more