MATCH PREVIEW: Chelmsford City vs Chippenham Town | FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying | Saturday 11th October

Just 90 minutes stand between CTFC and the First Round Proper

It’s FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying action, as for the fourth time in seven weeks we travel northbound on the M25, for a second trip to Chelmsford City of the campaign.

The prize of this tie, not only over £9000 of prize money, but also a spot in Monday night’s First Round draw and the chance to play sides from the EFL’s League One & Two.

Our last deep FA cup run came in 2022, as we famously knocked out Lincoln City before succumbing to Burton Albion.

The opposition

It has been just seven weeks since we last faced Chelmsford City as we did on Match week four. Searching for our first league win of the campaign, we went a goal up in the second half, thanks to Henry Sady’s first for the club.

Dom Odusanya was given a free header to level, before Kai Corbett’s late shot flew into the top corner to seal the win.

Since our August meeting, Chelmsford’s league results have been less than ideal. They have failed to beat both Dorking & Maidstone at home, as well as conceding five against Farnborough. They have been better away from home despite a narrow loss to Maidenhead, they have beaten Bath City.

In the FA Cup second qualifying round, they beat step 4 Hertford Town by six goals to nil, with Lyle Taylor scoring a hattrick and more goals from Kai Corbett, Ben Tompkins, Junior Nkeng. In the Third Qualifying Round a brace from Taylor, earned them victory over step 3 Alvechurch.

The Clarets have a rich history in the FA Cup, as in their first season in 1938/39, they reached the Fourth Round, falling to a defeat against Birmingham City.

Throughout the 50’s and 60’s, First Round appearances were regular, including wins against Cambridge & Oxford United. The Clarets’ last foray into the First Round came in 2022/23, as they lost in a replay to then National League Barnet.

Dangermen

Lyle Taylor is a name that dominated the summer’s transfer attention, as the 35 year old became Chelmsford’s statement summer signing. Taylor has played league Football for the likes of Bournemouth, Sheffield Untied and Nottingham Forest. He started the season recovering from injury, and has only played six times this campaign, with two league goals and five in two FA Cup matches. Taylor is a proven goal scorer, even at International level as he has scored 13 times for Monserrat.

Jack Barham was another summer signing, this time from FA Trophy champions Aldershot Town. Barham has played against us six times previously for the likes of Welling, Dorking, Maidstone, Dartford and most recently he played all 90 minutes in August’s match, and he has won every single match but has never scored. Barham was of course a part of the FA Trophy winning campaign with Aldershot last season, and he was the first person to celebrate with Dan Ellison, following his header to go 2-0 up.

Joe Grimwood, a centre-half, signed from Barnet over the summer, and returns to Step 2 following Braintree Town’s promotion season in 23/24, in which he played in both matches against CTFC, a 0-0 draw in Essex and a 1-0 win for the Iron in Wiltshire. Grimwood’s came on against us in August as a makeshift centre-forward.

Ticket information

Tickets can be purchased in advanced at a discounted price from Chelmsford’s ticketing website. There is still spaces available on the supporters coach, which can be booked from via our Community Manager Tina Hemmings on 07974101145 / community@chippenhamtownfc.club.

We are also running Mixlr Radio commentary, join us live from 2.50pm for all of the action.