12:20pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Dan Barnes
CHIPPENHAM Town manager Adie Mings was full of praise for his side as they came from behind for the third time in three games on Tuesday night.
The Bluebirds fell behind twice but goals from Alan Griffin, Scott Lye and a brace from Lewis Powell sealed victory over their Devon visitors.
“They’ve showed fantastic character and fantastic togetherness – I couldn’t fault their attitude or application,” said Mings.
“It was a poor start and we’ve conceded a sloppy goal early on but that’s the third time they’ve come from behind to get a result and long may it continue.”
Chippenham fell behind just two minutes into the game when on-loan Plymouth Argyle striker Liam Head lived up to his name and looped a header into the net after rising unchallenged to meet a free-kick.
Midway through the half, the in-form Powell beat the wall from a set-piece but saw his effort headed away by a defender on the line.
With the half-drawing to a close, Chippenham were handed a way back into the match when Lye was climbed on by former Bluebird Nathan Rudge in the box.
Referee Adrian Matthews pointed to the spot and striker Powell levelled the scores, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The Bluebirds looked to take the advantage in the second-half and Lye almost gave them the lead but his spectacular volley was tipped over by Tiverton keeper Steve Book.
The visitors then stole ahead for the second time in fortuitous fashion.
Chippenham failed to relieve the pressure on their penalty area, allowing Jamie Hatch to drill a ball across the six-yard box.
The low cross evaded keeper Ian Gill and when Allison stuck out a leg on the line, the ball span into the net off the boot of the unlucky midfielder.
However, Mings’ men provided an instant reaction through Alan Griffin.
After being on for a matter of minutes, the striker sent the ball crashing into the net with a diving header from Lye’s cross and hauled the score back to 2-2.
Just minutes later, the Bluebirds turned the game on its head when Luke Gullick beat his defender to the ball on the left-hand side of the area and lifted a pass over to the arriving Lye, who poked the ball goalwards with the outside of his right boot.
The midfielder’s effort ricocheted into the net off a Tiverton defender as Chippenham took the lead.
The goal deflated the visitors and as the Bluebirds pushed for more, their efforts were rewarded in the 85th minute.
Gullick and Lye linked up well to set up Griffin on the edge of the box, who produced a deft touch to send the ball onto the right foot of his strike partner.
Powell hit a low shot that beat Book and clipped the inside of the right-hand post to make it 4-2.
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