Eastleigh managed to level the scoring through a great effort from China Uguwumba after being one goal down at the break. However it was Chippenham Town that would advance to the first round proper after a late goal from Idris Thomas Jones.
The Spitfires’ hosted Chippenham Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup, as both sides looked to take a big step towards the First Round Proper. With plenty at stake, the game promised to be a competitive and entertaining affair at the Silverlake Stadium.
The first shot of the game arrived in the ninth minute when George Cook broke well down the right-hand side for Chippenham Town. The full-back then cut in and tried his luck, but the Eastleigh keeper took it into his grasp.
The hosts were awarded their first corner of the game when Sean Hart’s pace allowed him to get onto a loose ball down the right-hand side. Hart opted to cross early, but this cross was seen out for a corner.
Keegan Kelly decided to go low across the edge of the box, finding Hubert Cegielka, but the striker’s shot towards goal was blocked.
After a loose ball cannoning around the Spitfires’ box, it fell to Alex Kieh just inside the box. However, the defender didn’t set himself and sent his effort over the bar.
Moments later, Chippenham came even closer when Will Banfield sent an excellent effort towards Rio Hale’s goal. However, this effort was inches away from the top left.
After a bit of pressure from the away side, the hosts very nearly opened the scoring. A free-kick on the left side of the pitch was perfectly sent in towards Jayvon Cowill, but his headed effort was just wide of the post.
Following a moment of brilliance, the Bluebirds found themselves ahead when Banfield scored a wonderful free-kick from 25 yards out, placing the ball into the top-left corner making it 1-0 to Chippenham Town.
Just on the brink of half-time, the away side very nearly doubled their lead. Lewis Roystone broke into space on the far right, the defender continued his run all the way to the Eastleigh box, but his effort trickled just wide of the far post.
With just twenty minutes to go Eastleigh had their best chance of the game to level the scoring. In a very similar position to the goal in the first half Chika Uguwumba smashed his effort onto the bar.
Despite the close call this didn’t appear to rock the Bluebirds after some excellent football saw George Cook through on goal but his goal wards effort was decided by an outstretched Hale.
With 12 minutes of normal time to go the Spitfires got there leveller, after striking the bar before, Uguwumba got more fortune with his next effort as his deflected effort sailed over Massimo Sardo in-between the Chippenham sticks to level the scoring at 1-1.
With just moments to go a fantastic save from Hale looked like the game would be going to penalties when substitute Ashton Arlow’s effort was heading towards the cop right hand corner but an outstretched effort kept the scoring level.
However with very little time left to go Idris Thomas-Jones cross attempt looped over Hale and found its way in off the post, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead with very little time left.
Chippenham Town managed to see out the game and therefore advance to the next round of the FA youth cup.
Eastleigh: Hale (GK), Morris (Woodward 80′), Scambler, (Owen 80′), Kelly, McFarlane, Holbrook, Hart (Ihnatenko 45′), Ojo (Ollie Foulkes 72′), Cegielka, Colwill (Moss 90′) Ugwumba
Unused Substitutes: Bridi, Chester,
Goals: Ugwumba 77′
Yellow Cards:
Chippenham Town: Sardo (GK), Royston, Cook (Williams 83′), Smith, Tos, Kieh, Banfield (Thomas-Jones , Griffiths, Wyatt(Feeney 60′), Taylor (Hulland 83′), Davies
Unused Substitutes: Corbin, Arlow, Palmer,
Goals: Banfield 38′, Thomas-Jones 90+3′
