Chippenham Town 0 Blues 1

A moment of magic from Jack Ainsley settled this intense cup tie as Leiston progressed to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy for the second time in three years. Ainsley's strike in the final quarter settled a tough encounter between two sides challenging at the top of their respective divisions. Blues boss Glenn Driver made four changes to the starting line up that suffered its first League defeat at Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night. In came Seb Dunbar, Tom Bullard, Leon Ottley-Gooch and Jack Ainsley with Blake Saker, Christy Finch, Joe Francis and Jake Hutchings all on the bench. The hosts were minus two or three regulars but opened the contest strongly and Jacob Marsden in the Blues goal made a smart save to keep out Matt Smith's early effort. The visitors were then forced to clear a couple of chances of their own goal line before settling into the game. Leading scorer Matt Blake denied by a good save from James Rae and then Leon Ottley-Gooch seeing an effort just clear the home goal. A timely intervention from Joe Jefford denied Alex Ferguson a clear sight of goal as the Bluebirds continued to press forcing numerous corners but the gutsy visitors were repelling the pressure while Matt Blake continued to lead the line well for Leiston, seeing an effort flash inches wide of James Rae's goal. As the half time ended Blues skipper Tom Bullard blocked Matt Smith's effort on the line as the hosts would have gone into the break thinking they had done enough to break the deadlock. Early in the second half Matt Blake again went close before a flying save from Jacob Marsden denied Dave Pratt. But the hosts weren't having it all their own way and the Blues were beginning to keep possession well forcing a handful of corners but then Leiston were dealt a blow just after the hour when skipper Tom Bullard was forced to leave the field after sustaining a nasty facial injury, Jake Hutchings coming on to partner Joe Jefford at the heart of the Blues defence. The second half continued to ebb and flow as the first and it was clear a single goal was going to settle the tie and so it proved with the winning goal arriving thirteen minutes from time following a home corner. Jacob Marsden collected the corner and quickly released the Blues to sweep forward. Play switched across the park with Leon Ottley-Gooch finding Byron Lawrence whose neat lay off set up Jack Ainsley who took a touch before curling a sweet twenty yard effort beyond the despairing dive of James Rea and into the net via the left hand post. It could have been more for Glenn Driver's battling side in the closing stages as Patrick Brothers and Regan Pelling both forced James Rea into saves and then in stoppage time substitute Joe Francis raced clear but when faced with just Rea to beat, the keeper did well to thwart his effort. It didn't matter as the Suffolk side returned home from the 430 mile round trip in Monday's draw.

FT - Chippenham Town 0 Blues 1

Chippenham Town - Rae, (Pook 71 mins), Beeden, Allen (Campbell 60 mins), Tindle, Richards, Ferguson, Smith, Pratt, Bowman, Jones (Griffin 71 mins). Sub not used - Conor McCormack.

Blues - Marsden, Brown, Dunbar, Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard (Hutchings 64 mins), Lawrence (Pelling 85 mins), Heath, Blake, Brothers (Francis 78 mins), Ottley-Gooch. Subs not used - Saker and Finch.

Man of the Match - Gareth Heath

Attendance - 306