Weymouth 1-1 Chippenham Town: Ezio Touray rescues point

Touray 60

CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1

McClure 35 pen

TEN-MAN Weymouth fought back to earn a point, and nearly all three, in an action-packed 1-1 draw with Chippenham Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Chippenham took the lead through Matt McClure’s penalty in the first half, before Jordan Thompson was sent off after being adjudged to have committed a foul as last man.

Touray equalised from an acute angle after wonderful work from Tom Bearwish, before the Italian striker saw a late penalty magnificently saved.

Weymouth deserve huge credit for their final 30 minutes with ten men and are now unbeaten in three matches in all competitions.

Weymouth make three changes to the side that began the 3-1 win at Highworth last week.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-1 Chippenham Town - how it happened

In comes captain Tom Bearwish, returning from suspension, while Ben Thomson was also recalled and Calvin Brooks got a starting place having netted at Highworth in the FA Cup.

Anthony Cheshire, Joel Rollinson and Keelan O'Connell missed out from the squad entirely.

Cheshire has picked up five bookings, while Rollinson and O'Connell were omitted completely.

On the bench, Brandon Goodship, Dan Roberts, Frankie Monk and Elliott Bolton retained their places in the matchday squad.

Goalkeeping coach Jason Matthews was not required, while David Sesay returned to the 16.

After a scrappy opening five minutes from both teams, Chippenham conjured the first chance with a credible penalty shout that fell on deaf ears.

Tyreke Johnson forced his way to the byline and his cut back fell perfectly for Alex Bray, who was superbly blocked by Charlie Rowan.

However, the ball stuck in Rowan’s feet and Bray nipped in before going to ground beside the near post as Rowan attempted to recover, although Chippenham’s appeals were waved away by referee Phillip Eddie.

Weymouth responded with the game’s first effort, albeit off-target.

Olu Durojaiye showed excellent skill to touch the ball over two Chippenham defenders and cushion a volley into Leo Hamblin’s path, the left-back’s cross then headed wide by in-form Touray at the near post.

Weymouth continued to improve as Harvey Slade dragged a shot wide and the Terras really should have taken the lead in the 27th minute.

Thompson’s delightful chipped ball picked out Touray and, although the Italian’s shot was blocked, Thomson ran onto the rebound and blazed over from six yards with the goal beckoning.

It took the game’s first shot on target to break the deadlock, coming courtesy of a Chippenham penalty.

Weymouth felt aggrieved, believing Rowan’s tackle on McClure to have been outside the area, but the Bluebirds’ captain picked himself up and drilled down the middle to score the opener.

Matt McClure, left, put Chippenham in front from the spot (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth’s response was spirited, with Teddy Howe smashing into the side-netting and Rowan going close to an equaliser, glancing a header wide from the impressive Hamblin’s free-kick.

Touray then squandered the Terras’ biggest chance of the half as Howe led a counter and was upended, allowing the striker to shoot at goal only to scuff at away keeper Will Henry.

Both sides were unchanged at the break and Weymouth started well, Touray spinning into space and lashing against the side-netting.

On 53 minutes, though, the Terras were incensed as Thompson was dismissed in an innocuous foul.

The ex-Coventry centre-half looked to have won a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge but was instead penalised and, as last man, he saw red.

Sesay replaced Thomson in response but Weymouth’s answer to adversity was spirited and they equalised through their man of the moment, Touray.

The goal was made entirely by Tom Bearwish’s tenacity as the midfielder refused to give up possession in midfield, bouncing off challenges, and then sent a killer ball through for Touray.

The forward’s first touch looked to take him wide but he powered a shot through Henry to score from the tightest of angles, netting his fifth goal in three games.

Ezio Touray equalised for Weymouth on the hour mark (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Chippenham could only reply with two tame efforts as McClure’s bobbling shot was held by Benfield, who then caught Jake Evans’ weak sidefoot on 74 minutes.

With time running out, Weymouth were given a soft penalty in the 85th minute as Brooks’ run was cut off by Evans, however Touray’s penalty was superbly saved by Henry who made good ground to leap to his right and palm his effort away.

Weymouth went close again in the 88th minute when Touray retrieved possession, had a shot blocked and Bearwish rifled the loose ball just wide, flicking the side netting on the way through.

Tom Bearwish nearly won it for Weymouth at the death (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Chippenham had chances to win it themselves, Evans curling a free-kick wide in injury-time, but Weymouth’s final effort went to Touray who swept an ambitious volley wide at the death.

In the end, the sides had to be content with a point after a belting second half.

Terras: Benfield, Howe (Monk 79), Hamblin, Rowan, Thompson, Durojaiye (Bolton 75), Slade, Bearwish, Thomson (Sesay 56), Touray, Brooks. Subs not used: Goodship, Roberts.

Chippenham: Henry, Jones, Grant, Amadi-Holloway, Johnson (Windsor 75), Evans, McClure, Bray, Nicholls, Bradbury (Spokes 79), Williams. Subs not used: Fasanmade, Lewis, King.

Referee: Phillip Eddie

Attendance: 1,099