MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Town vs Hemel Hempstead Town | National League South | Saturday 19th October 2024
Declan Wright previews our home game to high-flyers Hemel Hempstead Town
After a positive result last week, Chippenham turn their attention to Hemel Hempstead who will travel to the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium on Saturday 19Th October 2024 with a 3pm kick off.
Last Time Out
Last Saturday the Bluebirds travelled to Essex to face an Aveley side needing a to boost their own confidence. Chippenham started brightly and had a major chance with Luke Haines breaking the Aveley defence with a pass to Tom Mehew whose shot was met by the Aveley number one, stopping The Bluebirds from an early lead. Another chance for Chippenham came through Lewis Colwell, receiving a pass from Leone Gravata, Colwell drove low across the goalmouth and unfortunately there was no one there to tap it in. In the second half, Luke Haines had flashbacks to last season with his goal at home to Welling when he drove forward from his centre back position and took a shot from about 30 yards. His strike went just over the bar.
The game was reaching it’s closing stages and looked certain to end goalless. High-intensity pressing from Tom Owen-Evans forced the goalkeeper into a mistake and slipping, with the clearance landing at the feet of Leone Gravata, who chipped past the scramble of players into an almost empty net giving The Bluebirds the win and taking a much needed 3 points away from home.
Opposition
Hemel Hempstead, also nicknamed The Tudors, were founded in 1885, and play their home football at Vauxhall Road what has a capacity of 3152, in which 300 of them are seated. Last season Hemel Hempstead finished just outside the relegation zone finishing in 20th place but with a new squad and new management , they currently sit 2nd.
In fact, before their most recent two fixtures they sat top, with an unbeaten record. The Tudors are currently managed by Bobby Wilkinson, who has been at Hemel Hempstead since April and has a background with non-league clubs such as Hungerford, Wealdstone, and Weymouth.
Familiar Faces
A player that has played for The Tudors and The Bluebirds is Chippenham centre midfielder Jake Evans. He signed for Chippenham at the start of last season, joining us from Hungerford Town. Before joining Hungerford, Jake was at this weekend’s opposition and this was his second spell with the club after spending a loan period with Hemel Hempstead while at Cardiff.
Player To Watch
The player that we think Bluebirds fans should look out for is George Williams, the 29-year-old winger has a variety of experience in the football league and has even been a senior international. Williams came through the Fulham academy, making 15 appearances in the championship with the cottagers.
After loan spells with MK Dons, Gillingham and Scottish side St Johnstone, Williams went to play for Forest Green, Grimsby and Barrow before making the switch to non-league with Boreham Wood in the 22/23 season joined The Tudors on loan and made it permanent in the 23/24 season.
Williams also brings international experience, being capped seven times for the senior Wales team and even though he did not make an appearance he was a part of the 2016 European Championship team that made the semifinals. He was called up to the Wales squad for the first time as a replacement for Gareth Bale in 2014.
UP THE BLUEBIRDS
