Torquay United v Chippenham Town

Report

TORQUAY UNITED SUFFERED THEIR THIRD DEFEAT OF THE SEASON ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WITH A 1-0 LOSS TO CHIPPENHAM TOWN THANKS TO A MATT SMITH HEADER FROM SIX YARDS OUT AFTER 26 MINUTES, THE DEFEAT INCREASES THE PRESSURE ON UNITED’S HEAD COACH GARY OWERS.

by Matt Green – Sport South Devon

Apart from the open 20 minutes when United had a good tempo to the game, the home side rarely threatened the Chippenham goal and only had three shots on target in the whole 90 minutes.

Owers had decided to start with the eleven that finished last Saturday’s fixture against Hemel Hempstead, which meant no starting place for Captain Brett Williams who was replaced by Ruairi Keating.

Having got through the early pressure from United, Chippenham found their feet and created several chances in a dominant 10-minute spell in the first half.

Midfielder Smith was involved in much of that good spell, with the number 8 twice trying his luck from distance in quick succession. It was Smith’s second attempt that had to be tipped over by Alex Bass that lead to the only goal of the game from the resulting corner.

Minutes earlier Jack Compton almost found the net when a deep corner found Compton unmarked at the back post but the forward was unable to convert the chance.

Having started the game so brightly, United had an early chance following a great ball by Opi Edwards, however the whipped cross had too much pace on it for Keating to get any connection.

Moments later, Edwards himself made the visitors debutant keeper Brad House work with a strike from the edge of the area after a good pass by Reid but that would prove to be the only shot on target for Torquay in the first half.

Torquay never really got back into any real rhythm after conceding and only a Keating header that was blocked with 5 minutes remaining of the half gave the home support anything to get excited about.

With a second half that won’t live long in the memory, neither side created any clear-cut chances to add to the score sheet.

Reid shot well wide from outside the area in the 51st minute for the Gulls before Nat Jarvis tried to add to the visitors lead in the 54th minute.

The decision to replace Keating with Brett Williams on 59 minutes was greeted with dismay from the home support, who vocally made their feelings known towards Owers. The change in personnel also brought about another formation change with Andrews playing just behind the front two, to try and get that all important goal.

Asa Hall tried his luck from distance just after the hour before Edwards forced House into a good save low down to his right from the angle of the area on 70 minutes.

Owers made his second change just before the 75th minute with Jason Banton replacing Edwards.

Jake Andrews tried a cheeky shot in the 75th minute with the outside of his foot, that had the keeper back pedalling and tipping the ball over for another United corner.

Andre Wright was also introduced in the last 10 minutes for Reid, as Owers tried one last switch to get his side back into the game.

With another frustrating afternoon on the pitch, the 1,422 home supporters inside Plainmoor made their feelings known at the final whistle, while the 32 Chippenham Town fans where thrilled with their team’s performance and 3 points.

Torquay have now slipped to 14th in the National League South table, 10 points off leaders Woking and face a trip to Hungerford Town next Saturday.

TUFC Starting XI (4-3-3): Bass, Wynter, Essuman, Cameron, Davis, Hall (Capt), Regis, Edwards Banton (73) , Andrews, Reid (Wright 86), Keating (Williams 59)

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Bawling

Bookings: None

Attendance: 1’454 (32 Away)