CHIPPENHAM CAUSE ROVERS PROBLEMS 

CHIPPENHAM TOWN  1 – 1  FOREST GREEN ROVERS

 In a testimonial match for Chippenham Town’s Sam Allison, Forest Green Rovers made hard work on a dry bumpy surface that was not conducive to slick passing movements.

A goal in the first half from the impressive Lee Fowler was cancelled out just minutes before the final whistle and both side having to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Each side found chances hard to come by in a tight opening half an hour but it was Rovers who took the lead from a set play on 31 minutes.

Lee Fowler took a free-kick to the right-hand side of the Chippenham goal and produced a pinpoint strike into the top corner that gave keeper Ian Gill no chance.

Gill was replaced by Chris Snoddy at half-time and the Bluebirds keeper was called into action to save at his near post from Reece Styche, early in the second-half.

Chippenham made a further substitution with Lewis Powell coming off the bench on 59 minutes and he won a penalty with his first touch of the game, Lee Ayres bundling him over in the box as he chased a quickly taken throw-in.

Shaun Lamb stepped up to take the kick only for James Bittner to make a superb save and keep his clean sheet in all pre-season matches.

Midway through the half, Alan Griffin tested Bittner with a shot on the turn before sub Allison played in Ashley Edenborough, but the winger's shot was into the side netting. On 88 minutes, the Bluebirds got their equaliser.

Mike Perrott found Kye Holly, who floated a cross to Allison at the back post for the ball to be headed the ball down to Powell, who volleyed home to level the scores.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Ian Gill (Chris Snoddy 45), Tom Elkins (Simeon Allison 71), Shaun Lamb (Kevin Halliday 69), Greg Tindle (Jamie Cheesman 69), Nathan Rudge (Alex Kite 60), Iain Harvey (James Martin 64), Mike Perrott, Kye Holly, Shaun Benison (Lewis Powell 58), Alan Griffin (Sam Allison 73), Ashley Edenborough (Sam Duggan 78).

FOREST GREEN ROVERS: James Bittner, Scott Bartlett, Craig Armstrong, Ian Herring, Luke Jones, Lee Ayers, Lee Smith (Jonathan Else 85), James Baldwin, Reece Styche, Ross Dyer, Lee Fowler. Subs unused: Ollie Cleaver, Gavin Carlin, Callum Henry, Jack Winter, Ben Pugh, Max Etheridge.

ATTENDANCE:  285