For the third game in a row, Maidstone United were beaten as they suffered back to back defeats for the first time in the league this season.
George Elokobi made four changes to the starting line up after last weeks heavy defeat at Worthing. Raphe Brown, Sol Wanju-Smith, Paul Appiah all returned to the side and there was also a debut for Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong who signed for Maidstone in the week.
On 16 minutes, Harry Kyprianou gained possession and passed to Berkeley-Agyepong who advanced a couple of metres before going for goal. Will Henry was alert though and he parried the ball.
Shortly after this, Henry made an impressive save. George Fowler side-footed the ball back across goal where it was met by Sol Wanju-Smith and he seemed certain to score but he was denied by a point blank range stop from Henry.
Chippenham then began to look the more likely of the two sides to score and they went in front on 27 minutes. Maidstone couldn’t clear a throw which might have gone their way and the ball dropped to Jake Evans inside the box and he lifted a terrific finish into the top right corner of the net.
The Stones couldn’t seem to get their momentum back after this although they did threaten three minutes into additional time at the end of the first half. Appiah found Matt Rush who turned smartly inside the box and his shot at the near post was well saved by Henry.
In the early stages of the second half, Maidstone dominated possession but they created little in the way of chances during this time. The closest they came was when Berkeley-Agyepong drove down the left side of the area and fired into the side netting.
On 78 minutes, Sam Corne let fly from 25 yards and his effort deflected wide. From the resultant corner, Corne passed to substitute Liam Sole who cut inside and dragged the ball past the right post. Deep in stoppages time, Maidstone had two corners in a row but they couldn’t find a way past Henry and the Stones finished 2023 in the same way that they had started the year, with a 1-0 defeat at home.
Maidstone United: –
Chippenham Town 1: Jake Evans 27
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 19. Paul Appiah, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown (16. Liam Sole 70), 2. Gavin Hoyte, 14. Harry Kyprianou, 17. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, 8. Sam Corne, 3.Chi Ezennolim (11. Michael Petrasso 62), 9. Sol Wanju-Smith (10. Timmy Abraham 68), 20. Matt Rush. Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 4. Reece Greenidge.
Chippenham Town: 1. Will Henry, 3. Dan Ellison, 6. Luke Haines, 4. Aaron Amadi-Holway, 2. Eddie Jones (18. Nat Williams 45), 8. Jake Evans (11. Alex Bray 70), 14. Luke Spokes, 20. Will King, 16. Caine Bradbury, 9. Matt McClure (4. Craig Fasanmade 79), 17. Ed Williams. Subs not used: 7. Tyreke Johnson, 12. Tom Mehew.
