GUTHRIE’S FREE-KICK DELIVERS THE POINTS

CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1 GLOUCESTER CITY 0

UNTIL the final quarter of an hour, this match looked destined to be Chippenham’s first draw of the season.

The first half saw very few clear-cut chances with Curtis McDonald heading wide for the home side whilst on loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Brad House had to be alert to dive on Gloucester’s Ben Seymour’s deft touch.

The second half saw the Tigers content to sit back and look to hit Chippenham on the break.

The final quarter of an hour saw Chippenham up the tempo with right back George Rigg supplying some telling crosses. Nat Jarvis’s shot deflected off a defender to Yates, whilst substitute Nick McCootie fired over the bar. Jarvis was then off target whilst Parker hit the side netting.

The decisive goal came six minutes from time when McCootie was fouled on the edge of the area and with specialist free-kick taker Jack Compton already substituted it fell to James Guthrie to bend a low shot around the Gloucester wall and into Yates’s far corner.

Gloucester had a late chance to equalise when Joe Hanks’ free kick bobbled around the area but Noah Smerdon’s headed effort went just wide. In the final minute McCootie burst through but his angled shot went beyond the far post.