United can't cut up Chipps (22.08.06)

UNITED gained their first point of the campaign with a rather frantic 0-0 draw against Chippenham Town at York Road tonight (Tuesday).
The visitors set their stall out from the off, playing with two defensive banks of four to nullify the Magpies attacking ambitions.
The ploy worked, with neither side offering much in terms of scoring chances.

Chippenham dominated the first half and should have taken the lead in  the 27th minute when star striker Dave Gilroy picked up a cross from Sam Allison and burst clear only for Chico Ramos to save well with his feet.
Ramos made another good save before the interval with United happy to get to half time with the scores level.

The second half continued in much the same vein, Gilroy again spurning a gilt edged chance to give his side the lead on 54 minutes when a long ball was flicked on to send him through one on one, only for Ramos to again save well with his legs.

With the Maidenhead central midfield pairing of Mark Nisbet and Craig Lewington working overtime to halt the offensive tide, United slowly got themselves into the game and began to look like they might nick a goal.
The Magpies’ closest effort came when a looping cross hit the bar and fell at the feet of Nisbet who fired in a good effort that was scrambled away by Steve Perrin in the Chippenham goal.

Town finished the match the stronger however, putting together some good moves which just lacked the killer touch, Allison flashing a header wide in the 76th minute.
In the final minute the industrious Ashley Smith cleared one last Chippenham effort off the line to give United a clean sheet and a first point.

Magpies: Ramos, Smith, Parsons, Bunce, Sterling, Lewington, Burnell (81 Osman), Nisbet, Romeo, Allen (81 Haule), Clarke.  Unused subs: Beevor, Kwakye, Anaman

Bluebirds: Perrin, Robertson, Stanley, Adams, Garner, Badman, Holly, Herring, Gilroy, Allison (86 Griffin), Halliday (69 Charity).  Unused Subs: Milsom, Jenkins, Soavill.