Chippenham Town 5, Hemel Hempstead 2

The damage was done in a 13-minute first half spell when the rampant Bluebirds blasted four goals past the Hertfordshire side, and although Hemel Hempstead shaded the second half, scoring two goals, Dave Gilroy's second goal of the match ensured there would be no heroic comeback.

The visitors suffered an early blow when lanky striker Andy Cook had to leave the field after a third minute tackle from Ellis Wilmot.

Hemel's skipper Mat Corbould seemed extremely fortunate not to concede a 15th minute penalty when Gilroy latched on to a long throw by Ian Herring before spinning in the box and beating Corbould only to be bundled to the ground by the big centre back.

The crowd were quickly appeased as three minutes later a further Herring throw from the right was headed goal wards by Gary Thorne. Keeper Martin Peat blocked Thorne's effort but Thorne bundled the rebound over the line. Referee Bernard Baker of Andover was called over by one of his assistants, where a lengthy discussion over a possible offside was overruled.

Thorne was then in the thick of the action at the other end, heading clear Lee Allen's dangerous free kick to Wilmot whose low pass sent Sam Allison speeding into the Hemel half. As Peat came out to meet him Allison rounded the Hemel keeper on the left of the area before stepping inside to fire home with his right foot.

Chippenham effectively wrapped the match up with two goals on the half hour mark. Man of the match Allison latched on to a long ball out of defence and flicked the ball over his head to Gilroy who raced into the area. Corbould could do no more than force the on-loan striker wide, but Gilroy skillfully placed his shot between Peat and the near post.

Allison was again involved in the fourth goal as his cross from the right found Gilroy, who in turn fed Scott Walker. Chippenham's top scorer again proved provider when the visiting defence failed to deal with his cross and Lee Davidson hit the ball home from the edge of the area for his first ever Chippenham goal.

Corbould then had three chances before the half time whistle to pull a goal back for the visitors but one effort went wide, another straight at Mark Hervin and the last was blocked by Rene Regis.

In between Gilroy tried to curl the ball around Peat but the Hemel keeper palmed the effort away. It was Chippenham's fifth effort on goal in the match and the first time they'd failed to score.

A 4-0 half time lead can often lead to a dull second half, and with Chippenham now kicking up the slope such was the expectation. In fact the Bluebirds continued where they had left off as Gilroy was again denied a 48th minute penalty when clattered to the ground by Grant Carney.

Then a sublime move, started on the halfway line when Allison superbly turned his man, saw Walker feed Gilroy. Peat superbly blocked Gilroy's shot and repeated the feat after the rebound fell to Gilroy.

A combination of Rene Regis and Allison then saw Walker smash a volley wide, before Wilmot tried his luck from distance only to angle his shot across the face of goal.

On 61 minutes Gary Thorne's measured header from Wilmot's corner went narrowly wide of Peat's left hand post. Four minutes later Mark Hervin's long clearance saw Allison allow the ball to drop over his shoulder before unleashing a fierce drive that was superbly blocked by Peat again at his left hand post.

It came as something of a surprise when the fifth goal of the match fell to the visitors. Matthew McEntegart conceded a 70th minute free-kick near the right touchline and Allen's kick was headed home by substitute Argyris Petrou.

Gilroy restored the four goal cushion 12 minutes from time when he volleyed home Walker's free kick, before a minute later Hemel again reduced the arrears as Bryan Hammatt took advantage of some careless defending to fire home from the edge of the area.

Chippenham: Hervin, Regis, McEntegart, G. Thorne, Herring, Davidson (Badman 77), Wilmot (Charity 88), Kirk (Constable 82), Gilroy, Allison, Walker subs not used Horgan, Paul.