A young Town XI grabbed a last-minute 1-0 win at Southern League Premier Division side Chippenham Town on Saturday afternoon, Joe Ward (pictured), a trialist from Chelmsford City, netting the game’s only goal from a Cory Galvin cross.
The home side came close to breaking the deadlock after 11 minutes when Greg Tindle's towering header was cleared off the line by Kyle Hammond.
Alan Griffin forced Town keeper Michael Crowe into a good save down low shortly after, prior to Griffin heading over when he should have hit the target.
The big centre forward came close again after getting the better of Omar Sowunmi, but his lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net.
After the break, Crowe made another good save to keep the scores level, before Jon Leddy hit a 25-yard effort that Chippenham keeper Ben John did well to gather.
The second period saw numerous substitutions from both sides as the players struggled to cope with the heat.
As the final whistle approached, Aaron Ledgister's freekick deflected off the Town wall and wrong-footed sub keeper Jacob Marsden, who was relieved to see the ball rebound off the crossbar before being cleared.
With a minute to go Town grabbed the winner. Irish U17 international Galvin crossed from the left and trialist Ward, who broke into Blue Square Bet South side Chelmsford’s first team last season and has also spent time at West Ham this summer, swept the ball home from 12 yards.
Chippenham will feel they ought to have taken one of their many chances, but overall Town defended well and took their chance when it came. Matt Clarke had another good game at centre-half while Jack Marriott worked hard up front.
The game was organised as part of the deal which saw Tyrone Mings join the Blues in December but the 20-year-old was withdrawn due to injury this morning.
After the game, various Town players commented on the extreme heat on Twitter, amongst them first-year scholar Clarke: "Hottest weather I've ever played in, good win though!”
Town XI: Crowe (Marsden 62), Hammond (Emmanuel 28), October (Willbye 28), Leddy, Sowunmi (Fowler 36), Clarke (Thompson 46), Winter (Galvin 46), Ward (Fagbohan 46), Marriott (Ramadan 62), Lawrence (Bishop 46), Timlin (Ward 66). Att: 415.
Report: James Ager