Bluebirds secure narrow A4 Derby victory

Chippenham Town earned a narrow 1-0 victory over City in a low-key A4 Derby at Twerton Park this afternoon. Parsons netted the decisive goal on 73 minutes which, based on their second half performance, the Bluebirds just about deserved.

The first half, played out in warm sunshine, very much had an end of season feel to it. Although the effort was there, quality was lacking from both teams, and neither goalkeeper was really tested during the opening 45 minutes. The best opening came on 29 minutes when Kieran Parselle did brilliantly to get away from Bray tight to the touchline but his cross scrambled away. The incident saw Bray stretched off with a leg injury.

The second half began in a more lively fashion as Haines tried his luck on the halfway line, the ball just clearing Harvey Wiles-Richards bar, then substitute Elliott Frear seeing his shot deflected onto the foot of the post by ex-City keeper Will Henry. And it was the visitors who built on this bright start, winning a series of corners, then creating the first clear opening of the game on 59 minutes. Neat build-up play sent Bradbury clear but Wiles-Richards did well to block his low shot. Ten minutes later Alex Fisher cleared a Gravata header off the line but three minutes later the ball broke to Parsons and he made no mistake from eight yards out. City almost responded immediately as Brad Ash made space on the edge of the box but saw Henry parry his shot. This was as close as they would come to denying the Bluebirds the three points, as they comfortably saw out the remaining time.