City suffer Bluebirds horror show in home opener

City began their 2017-18 home campaign in the worst possible manner as they crashed 5-2 to Chippenham Town at Twerton Park this evening. It took the visitors just four minutes to open the scoring when a long-throw from Sandell was turned home from close range by Smith. Seven minutes later City levelled when a Billy Murphy free-kick was missed by Tindle – who looked the Bluebirds only weak link all evening – allowing Andy Watkins to fire home from six yards. However, this was as good as it got for City. On 20 minutes a cross from Sandell was headed past Luke Southwood by an unmarked ex-City striker Pratt and two minutes before the break he was tripped by Jack Batten in the box, allowing Sandell to make it 3-1 from the spot. Any hopes of a similar fight-back to Saturday’s at Bognor were dashed on 63 minutes when Richards rose unchallenged to head home a corner. Ten minutes later Sandell’s neat turn and finish made it 5-1. City were awarded a penalty with nine minutes left, after Marvin Morgan was felled by Richards, which Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ confidently converted but it could not disguise a desperately disappointing night for the Romans.