British Gas Business Football League Premier Division Monday 1 January 2007 - Hardenhuish Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

The first came with the game only 11 minutes old. City's Darren Edwards chased a ball to the by-line before putting in a cross for Mark McKeever to slot home. Edwards clearly thought City had scored and turned in surprise to see the referee, Mr Tayler from Luton, pointing to the spot for a goal kick. Both referee and his assistant had clearly assessed that the ball had gone into touch before Edwards had crossed. It proved to be one of the few memorable moments from a drab first half. City had the bulk of possession, but did little to trouble Chippenham's youthful keeper Chris Snoddy. The home side in turn rarely worried a resolute City defence, limiting their attacking potential to two long-range free kicks, both of which were easily cleared by the City back line.

A sudden shower at half-time, which sent the large contingent of City supporters scurrying for cover, also had the effect of freshening up a heavy Hardenhuish pitch and, as became apparent within minutes, the previously pedestrian Chippenham side. Playing down the slope, for the first time the twin strike force of Dave Gilroy and Steve Cook began to look a threat and it was from one of those pair that the second controversial incident arose. Within only five minutes of the re-start, a long ball played forward found Cook one on one with City defender Matt Coupe. Coupe looked to have his opponent covered, only for the ball to rebound off his ankle and into the path of the Chippenham forward. City keeper Paul Evans was rapidly off his line and, as his momentum carried him forward, there were vigorous appeals from the home side that he had handled the ball outside his area. The referee looked hard at his assistant before waving play on to the dismay of the Chippenham bench and fans. If anything, the incident only served to encourage the home side, who rained a succession of corners and free kicks into the City 18-yard box. However, clearances from Chris Holland and Jim Rollo were matched by a firm punch from keeper Evans as the Wiltshire side seized the ascendancy. With Bath under pressure, for the first time the match began to have some of the intensity that both sets of supporters would have expected from a derby game. Lewis Hogg received a booking and on the hour mark, after a melee involving several players, former City forward Paul Milsom also received a yellow card. Despite the increased tempo, a draw still looked to be the most likely result, until the winning goal came out of what initially seemed an innocuous move eight minutes from time. Scott Partridge, who had look lively all afternoon, raced to save a ball from going into touch just ten yards inside the Chippenham half. His flick back to City captain Rollo was then punched forward towards the home defence, a move that City had exercised at least 20 times in the game. The only difference was that this time Edwards managed to get the better of Chippenham captain Ian Herring and raced towards the goal. Keeper Snoddy came off his line and, as he dived for the ball, slid into Edwards. The referee had no hesitation in pointing towards the penalty spot, although leniently failed to give Snoddy even a yellow card. Hogg easily scored from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way. However, Chippenham were not yet finished. With only seconds to go, a throw in on the left was flicked across goal and an unmarked Gilroy at the far post looked to only have to touch the ball to score the equaliser. Instead somehow he got underneath the cross and his shot sailed wide of the net. Just seconds later, Mr Tayler blew his whistle to send one half of Hardenhuish into ecstasy and City into second place in the league.