MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Town vs Hampton & Richmond Borough | National League South | Saturday 26th October 2024

Freddie Kilbey previews the visit of Hampton & Richmond Borough

Three very late Chesham United goals saw Chippenham Town fall to a gut-wrenching defeat on Tuesday night.

However, the Bluebirds will be determined to bounce back with three points when they welcome Hampton & Richmond Borough FC to Hardenhuish Park on Saturday afternoon.

With just one point splitting the two sides apart in the Vanarama National League South, it would be fair to anticipate a tight affair when they clash at the weekend.

Founded in 1921, Hampton & Richmond Borough FC are a senior club based in Hampton, Middlesex, Greater London.

In fact, they are the only senior football team to come from the London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames.

They were named Hampton FC up until 1999, when they changed their name to Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The Londoners are commonly referred to by their nickname ’The Beavers’.

At the reins of the team is manager Alan Julian, who was appointed to the role in May, earlier this year.The former goalkeeper had racked up over 350 appearances throughout his playing career, including a stint in between the sticks as a Beaver.Having been a ‘keeper in his playing career, the manager will be looking to prove that he could be a safe pair of hands when in the dugout.

Last season, Hampton & Richmond suffered heartbreak as their National League dreams vanished after missing out on a playoffs spot by a whisker.They succumbed to two successive defeats in their last fixtures of the campaign, which put the final nail in the coffin for their play-off hopes.

This season, Julian’s side currently sit in 14th place in the league table after recording four wins, four draws and six losses.

On Tuesday, The Beavers secured all three points when they faced Eastbourne Borough at the Beveree Stadium.

This was a crucial result for them and the team’s morale after suffering three defeats on the bounce, prior to the win, which included a 3-0 defeat on the road inflicted by Truro City.

In their last five, they had racked up two wins and three losses, including a 4-0 hammering of fellow Londoners Enfield Town.

In the last meeting between the two sides, Alex Gibson-Hammond found the back of the net in the dying minutes of the game to snatch all three points for the Beavers in a 2-1 win.Tom Owen-Evans provided Chippenham with the lead in the first half. However, Mason Bloomfield’s header in the 54th minute levelled the game before Gibson-Hammond’s nicked the victory for the hosts.

Chippenham Town fans must keep their eyes peeled on centre forward James Roberts.

The striker became a Beaver after joining from Havant & Waterlooville, who were relegated following the conclusion of last season.

For Hampton & Richmond this season, Roberts has bagged five goals in 13 league fixtures, meaning that he could pose a huge threat going forward, and is one to watch on Saturday.

Come on you Bluebirds!