A Dover attack is headed clear by a Chippenham defender.

It turned out to be a fairly farcical game in Wiltshire due to the terrible wind that seemed to effect every game played in the country this Saturday, but neither team could take advantage and put the ball away. As seems typical at the moment, it was rather a patchwork side that Whites were able to put out, mainly due to the suspensions of Chapman and Arnott. However, Jamie Day was welcomed back to the fold after his suspension last week, and Billy Bone and Matt Carruthers returned from injury.

The actual players on the pitch would not have made much difference in the first half, when we struggled to get the ball out of our half due to the blustery conditions. Every goal kick of Hyde's went straight out of play to his right as we fought to keep the ball on the ground and move it forward.

There were not many serious chances for either side due to the conditions, the first effort on target coming on 20 minutes when Charlie Griffin's cross was caught in the wind and blown towards goal. This failed to trouble Hyde though, and a similar event occurred when Colin Towler had a free-kick from the half-way line. This again was only close due to the conditions, but worried our travelling fans as it flew just over the bar. Soon afterwards though, Hyde was injured by a late tackle by Martin Paul, and so Craig Cloke had to take many goal kicks until Dave Wietecha replaced him just after half-time.

Both Griffin and Paul had looping chances that failed to trouble Hyde before Chippenham had their best chance of the half. Hyde was penalised for holding the ball too long before a goal-kick, and so an indirect free-kick was awarded in the area. Scott Walker took it and hit the post, and when the ball was played back into the area, Griffin went close with a header.

Soon after, James Constable should have scored with a free header at the back post, but he was put off by another forward next to him.

Whites were trying to keep the ball on the ground throughout, especially with Wilkins holding onto the ball and running with it. But it was not until the final ten minutes of the half that we turned this into chances. Carruthers was through on goal but was tackled and from the resulting corner keeper Mark Hervin saved Cloke's header underneath the crossbar. Then Jamie Day went close after being fed by James Millar, when he cut into the box on the left-hand side, but his effort went over.

Nicky Humphrey gets forward from the back for the Whites.

At the start of the second period Whites were unlucky not to go ahead. With the wind now in our favour (even though it had died down a bit), Carruthers was put through, but was adjudged offside with a very late flag after he had played the ball into the net. But just after Wietecha replaced Hyde, Chippenham also should have scored. The ball was played across the face of goal but Martin Paul could not get the vital touch at the back post from 5 yards out with an open goal in-front of him. This let-off encouraged the Whites to push forward, which led to two chances for Wilkins before Carruthers again put the ball into the net, only to be called offside again. Jamie Day then went close again. He took the ball around a couple of defenders before unleashing a drive that went wide, and then he had another effort that Hervin had to turn away for a corner.

The final chances feel to Chippenham though, firstly as Griffin was through on goal but Wietecha made a good save at the forward's feet. Tom Gould then had another effort form a corner but the game ended goalless in Wiltshire and Whites were left to rue missing another chance to get some valuable points on the board. Results again went for as really, as we only dropped to 13th place, but we need to begin to pick up points again, before it is too late.

Young Whites defender Laurence Ball in action at Chippenham.

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