CHIPPENHAM’S 2017 winning streak came to an end with a 3-1 loss away to Bristol UWE in the GoCrea8 League Conference North.
Chippenham started brightly and scored first through Craig Kilminster, however, two quick goals from the students made the game an uphill struggle for the visitors.
Good saves from man of the match Leo Barker kept Chippenham in it but, as they pressed for an equaliser at the end of the game, UWE scored a breakaway third.
Devizes’ recent unbeaten run in the same division came to an end after a 3-0 away loss to third-placed Firebrands A.
Promotion-chasing Chippenham A suffered their third home league defeat of the season, going down 3-2 to a strong visiting Westbury & UB B outfit.
The away side started the stronger but Chippenham were first to score with an excellent foray into the opposition half by defensive midfielder Chris Sampson before a deftly-weighted pass to attacking midfielder Andy Edwards allowed him to fire home with a blistering reverse-stick strike.
Westbury equalised shortly after but Chippenham struck again a couple of minutes later when striker Henry Price fired the ball towards goal from an acute angle and it was delicately deflected home by Jack Stanley.
The second half started with Chippenham being pressed back further and, 20 minutes in, Westbury levelled again before scoring the winner from a deflected penalty corner despite a valiant initial block by keeper Harry Wells.
Price hit the post with a penalty corner for Chippenham but they were unable to get back on terms.
Chippenham B drew 3-3 with top-of-the-table Wootton Bassett in their first home game of the new year in East Central One. Both sides had good chances before Harry Elias put Chippenham in front with a reverse-stick strike.
Bassett responded almost immediately and Courtney Wilding deflected the ball into his own goal for the leveller before Elias found a yard of space to score another well-taken reverse-stick strike.
Wootton Bassett piled on the pressure as the half wore on and, after a succession of short corners, once again drew level.
An audacious attempt from Guy Barrett put Chippenham back in front after the break but Bassett hit back almost immediately and drew level.
Devizes A wrapped up a 3-0 success over Team Bath Buccs F.
The home side scored early on via Alex Carter with a poacher’s finish following a short corner.
A second arrived before the interval via Jack Gompels, who then notched his second after half-time with a simple tap-in.
Chippenham C’s unbeaten start to 2017 came to an abrupt end with a 5-1 loss to East Central Two leaders Bristol University C.
Two goals down early on, they conceded a further two after the break before Tim McKendrick drove forward before crossing for Will Thomsett to tap home at the far post.
Bristol then added their fifth goal to round off victory.
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