Enfield Town 0 Chippenham Town 0

The two sides cancelled each other out in this one at a sunny Dave Bryant Stadium in an attritional game in which free-flowing football was at a premium.

Following a minute’s silence for the late Middlesex FA Chair John Taylor, the visitors were the first to show, with Tom Owen-Evans dragging a low shot across Joe Wright’s goal. For Enfield, Ollie Knight had a shot saved by ‘keeper Will Henry who, soon afterwards, punched clear a flick-on following an inswinging corner perilously close to his goalline, with a number of fans behind the goal claiming that the ball had actually crossed the line.

On 16 minutes Jake Evans fired over after some build up play on the Chippenham right, and a few minutes later Xavier Benjamin did well to block an effort from Luke Spokes after he had been fed by Alex Bray. Wright took no chances with a loose bouncing ball, pushing it over the bar, but a scarcity of goalmouth action in the first half contributed to the fairly low key atmosphere.

Half time: 0-0

The second period was more competitive, and not without controversy. Lennon Peake’s inswinging corners continued to cause problems for the Chips’ rearguard, and he also drilled a free-kick off target. Jack Bates’ rising shot failed to trouble Henry while, around the hour mark, a dangerous Spokes free-kick was headed behind for a corner by Henry Hawkins. At the other end, Bates was booked for simulation after he appeared to be impeded inside the box and then Town’s man of the match on the day saw his firm drive tipped over. Sam Youngs fired narrowly wide.

The key moment of the match came ten minutes from time following a Bates free-kick which caused confusion in the visitors’ defence. Substitute Cian Dillon appeared to force the ball over the line following Henry’s parry, and online footage after the match indicated at least a suspicion of handball on the line but, much to home supporters’ ire, the referee and his assistant waved play on.

As the match reached its conclusion, home skipper Mickey Parcell shot wide while, at the death, after a Chippenham free-kick had been deflected behind, Wright produced a top-drawer save to keep out Caine Bradbury’s goalbound shot to preserve a potentially crucial point.

Interviewed after the game, Gavin Macpherson was firmly of the opinion that his side should have won the match and that the players remained positive, upbeat and in good spirits, knowing that Town’s fate was still in their own hands over the remaining five tough encounters to come.

Team: Wright; Benjamin, Thompson, Hawkins; Leonard, Parcell, Bates (Chukwu 86), Sidwell (Brown 57), Knight; Youngs, Peake (Dillon 61). Subs not used: Stallard, Kasimu.

Attendance: 982.