Tonbridge Angels departed Hardenhuish Park pointless as Chippenham Town gained a huge three points with their first win since August Bank Holiday Monday with a single goal victory from a tight encounter.

The hosts winning goal came on 68 minutes through Anointed Chukwu, who scored his first goal for the Bluebirds from close range, following a left sided cross from Tom Mehew.

Tonbridge had the opportunity to rescue a point from the game when they were awarded a penalty after 75 minutes but Bunmi Babajide’s spot kick was saved low to his right by Will Henry.

Manager Alan Dunne summarised the afternoon’s frustrations in a post-match interview with Matt Eastley: “I’m with the fans in their frustration with the penalty and the chance at the end. I don’t like getting beaten but in these games, they are fighting for their lives. It was a scrappy game, difficult to build any momentum. There wasn’t a lot in the game, if anything, I thought we had the better chances but they’ve taken their one chance.”

With three new loan signings announced prior to the game, seven changes were made from the starting XI beaten by Worthing last weekend. Laurie Shala, Franklin Domi and Ethan Sutcliffe were given immediate introductions with Ricky Korboa and Tom Leahy returning after being cup-tied, Scott Wagstaff from injury and Babajide to the starting line-up.    

On a wet, cold afternoon, a sedate start to the game was punctuated by a Chippenham penalty appeal that was turned away after Mehew had gone down in the box and a Babajide header from a great delivery from Bailey Akehurst that went narrowly wide for the visitors.

Both sides had opportunities to go in the break ahead but the half ended in stalemate.

Chippenham passed up a golden chance, five minutes into the second half, when Ezio Touray was sent one-on-one with the goalkeeper but put his effort wide as the home side dominated the early stages of the second period before going ahead.

Babajide’s mazy run was brought to end as he was felled by Reece Fleet. The Tonbridge striker took the spot kick himself only to be denied by Henry.

The home side preserved the valuable three points when, with five minutes of added time played, a cross from Brody Peart saw the ball fall to Matt Warren whose effort was sensationally blocked on the line by Will King.

Alan Dunne concluded: “We need that bit of nous to take an early chance. We need six or seven chances to score one, opposition need just a half-chance. But saying that, we were defensively excellent, the goalkeeper (Shala) and Ethan Sutcliffe, who has played just 45 minutes; first game in months, were excellent. Defensively we looked a real solid team, but I need to find the right formula up top.”