Attendance: 2,625 (744 Cobblers fans)

Chippenham: Will Puddy, Rhys Tyler, Jay Foulston, George Rigg (sub Elias Youseff 79), Chris Zebroski, Will Richards, Tom Whelan, Nat Jarvis (sub Luke Hopper 68), Curtis McDonald, Karnell Chambers, Luke Haines (sub Callum Gunner 55)
Subs not used: AJ George, David Pratt, Dan Warre, Conor Thompson

Cobblers: Steve Arnold, Paul Anderson, Charlie Goode, Scott Wharton, Jordan Turnbull (sub Michael Harriman 63), Chris Lines, Alan McCormack (sub Billy Waters 68), Matt Warburton (sub Scott Pollock 62), Nicky Adams, Vadaine Oliver, Harry Smith
Subs not used: David Cornell, Reece Hall-Johnson, Andy Williams, Sam Hoskins

Referee: Christopher Pollard

Booked:
Chippenham: none
Cobblers: none

Sent off:
Chippenham: none      
Cobblers: none

The Cobblers travelled to Chippenham Town in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup with the game, having been selected for extended television highlights by the BBC, played on Sunday lunchtime. Steve Arnold, out since August with a hamstring injury, started in goal with Vadaine Oliver replacing Sam Hoskins up front. National League South side Chippenham were not to be underestimated and they went into the game unbeaten in eleven.

It was Remembrance Sunday and before the game kicked off there was an impeccably observed minutes silence to honour all those who have fallen.

On a bright and sunny afternoon in Wiltshire the woodwork denied the Cobblers early on, Vadaine Oliver’s header crashing back off the crossbar after Chippenham goalkeeper Will Puddy could only parry a dangerous ball in from Nicky Adams while Chris Zebroski drew a comfortable save from Steve Arnold and Karnell Chambers volleyed over for the home side

Nicky Adams had a chance to open the scoring as the Cobblers broke quickly from a Chippenham corner but having been played through by Matt Warburton he couldn’t quite keep his shot down. Puddy then pulled off a fantastic reaction save as Alan McCormack took aim from distance but the deadlock was broken from the subsequent Adams corner, Harry Smith heading home the opening goal.

Vadaine Oliver made it 2-0 less than five minutes later, an Adams cross again providing the assist as Oliver scored with a header. Chambers then flashed a header just wide as the home side looked to halve the deficit. The Cobblers weren’t letting up though and Charlie Goode rattled the bar with a blockbuster of a strike from 30-yards. Scott Wharton also went close with a header and Puddy saved from Warburton before Oliver made it 3-0 just before half-time, turning in a drilled volley from Paul Anderson.

Puddy denied Warburton again early in the second half after some more good work by Adams with Jordan Turnbull in the right place at the right time at the other end to block a goal bound shot from Chippenham who also went close through Chris Zebroski.

Adams, deserving of a goal for his general play, saw a shot saved by Puddy at the near post and Arnold saved from Chambers as the game entered the final few minutes. The second half had been a quieter affair than the first but the Cobblers were safely through to round two with a 3-0 victory, Chris Lines making a good block in stoppage time to ensure a clean sheet.

CHIPPENHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)     
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 7
CORNERS: (0) 5         
FOULS: (8) 16         
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 3 

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)      
SHOTS ON TARGET: (10) 13 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (6) 7 
CORNERS: (5) 10
FOULS: (8) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 4