Tuesday 27 December 2005 - Deathtrap Park - kick off 3.00pm

Southern League Premier Division
half-time: 0-0 result: L0-2 attendance: 1612
team: Evans, Rollo, S Jones (Davidge 77), G Jones, Coupe, Harris, Bird, Holloway (c), Walsh, Partridge, Sandell. subs not used: Branton, Power, York, Clarke.
man of the match: Gethin Jones
scorers: none
bookings: G Jones (26), Walsh (44), Bird (66), Coupe (83)
officials: M Downey (Hounslow), G Barter (Gillingham), M Gentle (Salisbury)
league position: 7th form: LWDWWL next match: Halesowen (A)
Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

It had to happen some time - but few fans would have predicted Chippenham's first win over Bath City would come gift-wrapped at Christmas. A soft penalty and a Laurel and Hardy moment between City midfielder Adie Harris and keeper Paul Evans gifted Town a well-earned win in a game that would be largely forgettable under normal circumstances. There was plenty of passion and pride on show - but it came at the expense of style and finesse with both sets of supporters eventually reduced to watching two of the Southern Premier Division's top teams play hoof ball. Not that it will bother the Chippenham fans too much. The Hardenhuish Park faithful have waited a long time to win bragging rights over their local rivals and fully deserve their moment of glory after out-battling City on the day.

Both sides set the tempo level to maximum from the kick-off and it pretty much stayed that way for the rest of the game. City started brightly and an Andy Sandell free-kick caused confusion in the Chippenham six-yard box but Scott Partridge had the ball taken off his toes before he could pull the trigger. Ian Herring skied a promising free-kick on the edge of the City box moments later, but the game then descended into a war of attrition. Chippenham enjoyed the lion's share of possession and should have been awarded a penalty when Dave Gilroy beat marker Jim Rollo in the box only to be brought down by a flailing leg. City keeper Paul Evans pulled off a superb, low save to keep out a Nick Stanley free-kick minutes later and then Matt Coupe almost put the ball into his own net with a brave, if heart-stopping, defensive header that hit the side-netting to deny Gilroy. As the half wore on, City started to get back into the game and ten minutes before the break Harris almost gave them the lead. The midfield enforcer fired a great low shot at Steve Perrin who did well to turn the ball away from the onrushing Partridge after reacting to a late bobble. The keeper was rewarded with a bloody nose just before half-time following a sliding, 50-50 clash with Phil Walsh.

City looked better after the restart and Coupe and Walsh both went close with headers. Alan Griffin could only slide a great Sam Allison cross wide of Evans' goal on the hour mark as Town hit back but, just when it looked like City had weathered the worst of it, Allison cleverly lost his marker and the slightest of touches from Sandell's trailing arm sent the Chippenham winger tumbling theatrically to the ground. Referee Matt Downey pointed to the spot and Herring's penalty sent Evans the wrong way. The goal energised a tense-but-dull game and Herring, Griffin and Simon Charity all came close to doubling the lead. Partridge should have equalised for City 13 minutes from time but could only fire straight at Perrin from close range. Another Town attack saw Allison mis-control a Gilroy pass but before Evans could smother the ball it was kicked out from under him by teammate Adie Harris to leave the easiest of tap-ins for Mark Badman. It was academic after that and Town held on for a historic victory.