Some of the failings that have blighted the Whites’ season since the turn of the year resurfaced at Stanley Park, where a Chippenham side battling to escape the relegation zone handed them their heaviest defeat for 17 months.
Although the outcome was the right one, the scoreline was extremely harsh on a Colts side who controlled the first quarter of an hour on a superb surface and showed plenty of fight in the closing stages. The less said about the 30 or so minutes in the middle, the better, however.
There was little sign of what was to come when Liam escaped the last defender in the first minute and saw a shot touched onto the post. The resulting corner fell to the lively George on the edge of the box and his effort clipped the top of the bar. Brandon H then won a free-kick that Matthew placed just wide of the far post, but he was given a second opportunity from similar range soon afterwards and this time found the top corner with a powerful strike to open the scoring.
Tom, Josh and Callum had comfortably repelled the Chippenham threat at the other end, with keeper Luke claiming a couple of crosses in confident fashion, but the contest turned decisively in the hosts’ favour when the game’s outstanding player curled home a shot from distance after Colts failed to clear their lines.
As has been the case on a number of occasions this season, the Whites’ heads went down and their collective lack of resilience and team spirit proved very costly. Chippenham broke through the middle to take the lead soon afterwards and went into the half-time break 2-1 up having negotiated a strong wind in their faces in the opening period.
Much worse was to come as Chippenham began to win every loose and set-piece ball. Their midfield dynamo capitalised on some hesitant defending to complete his hat-trick, before a fortuitous fifth goal from long range put the game to bed with 20 minutes still to play.
Further damage was averted by a more determined effort from the visitors as the game wore on. Max, Bradley and Matthew showed their team-mates the way by flying into challenges and emerging with the ball. But the Colts’ day was summed up when Matthew was denied a brilliant solo goal by a tackle from one of his own team-mates as he prepared to pull the trigger, having beaten practically every Chippenham player en route to the penalty area.
Brandon H saw a shot deflected just wide and Toby and Luke VDB, who were largely starved of service on the flanks as the Colts failed to use the width of the pitch effectively, both threatened a late consolation goal following pacy runs in the Chippenham half.
The result leaves the Colts with a mountain to climb if they are to snatch fourth place in the final North Wilts League table, with the season coming to an end with away games against the current top two, Swindon Supermarine J and Croft Juniors Red.