DR MARTENS LEAGUE

By Andy Cryer

Chippenham Town 1,

Weston-super-Mare 1

CHIPPENHAM Town very nearly had their own Father Christmas on Boxing Day as in-form striker Charlie Griffin was a coat of paint away from delivering a much needed three points at Hardenhuish.

The former Swindon Town striker had already cancelled out a Luke Corbett opener with a stunning 20-yard free kick on the hour mark, when minutes later his powerful header crashed off the bar to safety as 10-man Weston hung on grimly for a point.

Corbett, making his debut for the visitors after signing on loan from Cheltenham last week, gave Weston the lead against the run of play on 44 minutes, but after former Bristol Rovers defender Justin Skinner had been sent off for a professional foul on Martin Paul it looked like there was only going to be one winner.

Griffin smashed home the ensuing free-kick to equalise but Town were unable to make the most of the pressure and, on a couple of occasions, were nearly caught on the break by the lively Corbett.

Looking for their first home win of the season, Bluebirds manager Steve White opted for an attacking formation, with Adie Mings, Paul and Griffin in a three pronged attack.

Club captain Colin Towler made his first start in the heart of the defence since injuring an ankle a couple of months ago, with Wayne Thorne dropping down to the bench.

Among Weston's ranks were striker Mark McGregor, who spent a month on loan at Hardenhuish earlier this season, and midfielder Lewis Hogg, who was training with Chippenham only last week.

Watched by 641 spectators, Chippenham made a bright start and nearly took the lead on three minutes when Ian Herring, on a month's loan from Swindon, fired a 20 yard shot over the bar.

On 10 minutes, Weston goalkeeper Stuart Jones miskicked a clearance straight at Nathan Edwards who headed the ball beyond the visitors' defence and into the path of Charlie Griffin. The striker took the ball past the stranded Jones but found the angle too acute as Skinner managed to clear the ball to safety.

Weston nearly took a surprise lead a minute later when former West Ham and Celtic midfielder Stuart Slater cut the ball back from the right side to Corbett but his shot was well blocked by Tom Gould.

The visitors began to gain the upper hand as Hogg and Slater took control of the midfield and Corbett's pace and touch caused problems up front.

On 20 minutes McGregor went down in the penalty area after a challenge by Gould but the penalty appeals were waved away.

Lewis Hogg was the next player to go close as his fiercely struck shot flew just over the bar.

Just when it looked as though Weston were getting on top, Griffin picked the ball up on the half way line and made a driving run into Weston's half. Eventually he was dispossessed but the ball fell to Mings just inside the penalty area on the left hand side. To the frustration of the Hardenhuish faithful, Mings could only screw his shot high and wide.

Chippenham nearly took the lead on 33 minutes when Griffin's goalbound header was brilliantly tipped wide by Jones, when it looked as though he had been sent the wrong way.

A minute later it was Town goalkeeper Mark Hervin whose brilliance kept the scores level as he palmed Hogg's 30-yard shot over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time Hogg played Corbett in down the right. The on-loan striker outpaced Towler to get to the ball first before hitting an instinctive shot through the legs of Hervin and into the net to give his side the half time lead.

It was a more determined Chippenham that emerged after the break and on 50 minutes Griffin's header from an Ellis Wilmot corner was again well saved by Jones.

Chippenham got the break they were looking for on 59 minutes when Paul latched onto Andy Robertson's clearance but was crudely brought down on the edge of the area by Skinner.

Skinner was dismissed and Griffin curled the ball into the top left hand corner of the net to equalise.

For the next 20 minutes, Chippenham piled forward in search for the winner. Griffin hit the bar, Wilmot fired just wide and Griffin went close with another long shot.