MATCH PREVIEW: Chippenham Town vs Welling United | National League South | Saturday 22nd February 2025
Matt Chappell previews our home game against Welling United
After a busy last few games on the road, with trips to Hertfordshire and Hampton notably recently. The Bluebirds get a week’s rest before returning back to The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium on Sat 22nd February 2025, to take on a struggling Welling United.
Last Time Out
The Bluebirds extended their excellent form to make it four wins in five matches, securing a 2-1 victory away to Hampton & Richmond last Saturday, despite having Luke Spokes out following his red-card away to Hemel Hempstead Town recently and Joe Andrews also not involved as he was recently called up to Wales’s U19 squad, Luke Haines returned to the side after serving his two game suspension. It was a hard-fought contest, but goals from Tyreke Johnson and Matt McClure helped Chippenham claim the three points on the road.
The first half was dominated by Chippenham, and it all started early on. In the 4th minute, Tyreke Johnson delivered a perfect cross from the left to Harry Parsons in the box, but the number 19 couldn’t quite get a touch. The real drama came shortly after, though, as a clearance from Lachlan Byrd was deflected off Dominic Revan and headed towards the empty net. Max Merrick was alert and managed to block the ball, preventing a potential own goal.
Hampton & Richmond then had their chance to go ahead in the 17th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Archy Taylor’s ball found Zanda Siziba in the box, and as the two collided, there were strong appeals from Chippenham for a foul against the Hampton player. However, after reviewing the incident, the referee awarded the Beavers a penalty. James Roberts stepped up to take the spot kick, but Will Henry, the Chippenham goalkeeper, was equal to it, diving the right way and making a crucial save to keep the score level. Chippenham then made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. Starting with a build-up from the back, Caine sent a long ball out to Alex Bray on the right. Bray skilfully beat Renedi Masampu down the wing and sent in a cross that was blocked by Archy Taylor. The ball fell to Harry Parsons, who quickly found Tyreke Johnson in the box. With his second touch, Johnson arrowed the ball into the top right corner, giving Chippenham the lead. Just two minutes later, a defensive mix-up between Revan and Page, along with Merrick being off his line, allowed Matt McClure to take advantage. McClure seized the opportunity and scored from the halfway line into an empty net, making it 2-0.
However, Hampton & Richmond weren’t done yet. On the 41st minute, a foul by a combination of Will King and McClure on Josh Keeya resulted in a free kick for the Beavers. Archy Taylor stepped up to take it from 25 yards, and his strike beat Will Henry to make it 2-1 just before the break. Chippenham nearly responded immediately as Harry Parsons had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed. After a great ball from Johnson, Parsons fired wide from a dangerous position, leaving the score at 2-1 at halftime. The second half saw Hampton & Richmond dominate possession, but despite a series of chances, they were unable to find the equalizer. In one of their best opportunities, Zanda Siziba’s cross from the right found Mauro Vilhete, but Jac Poffley was on hand to clear it off the line. A few moments later, Hampton had back-to-back chances blocked. Renedi Masampu’s shot from the left was denied by Henry, and James Roberts, following up on the rebound after his earlier penalty was saved, saw his second attempt also saved by Will Henry, who was in excellent form.
Saturday’s win pushed Chippenham Town up to 12th in the Vanarama National League South table, with 44 points on the board. The victory increased their lead over the relegation zone to 13 points, while also narrowing the gap to the playoff spots to just 12 points. As the National League South continues to throw up unexpected results, Chippenham will be hoping to maintain this momentum and continue to rise up the table.
Gary Horgan said:
It was a really good game of football, I think in the end while in the Second Half we gave up a lot of possession with late chances and blocks but that’s what we expect. We could’ve made the game easier for ourselves after going 2-0 up in the first half. Hampton got their first chance with a penalty which I don’t think was a penalty. Alex won the ball clearly and cleanly, justice was done by Will Henry making a good block.
We then score a really good goal from Tyreke which I thought we could’ve made more of but managed to find the space behind but Ty scored a superb goal then Matty saw the keeper of his line and doubled in a scores just inside their half. Ultimately, I thought our back three defended really well, and dealt with everything that was chucked into the box, we needed some good blocks and saves, and I think we deserved that one.
Our Opponents
Welling United, formed in 1963, have been a mainstay in the National League / Conference League system since 1986. They saw out 14 consecutive seasons at that level, and following relegation four in the Southern League, including the first two campaigns that we joined in on Southern League action. They were a founding member of the Southern Step two division (2004) and have largely been an ever-present in the division since, with the three exceptional seasons between 2013 and 2016 fliting with the National League Premier.
Since relegation back to step two, their fortunes have been a mixed bag, with five lower half finishes and even a luck escape from relegation in 2022, finishing 20th of 21 teams, but the next season’s restarting saving the Wings’ skin. In their last eight seasons of NLS action, they have had 11 different managers, most notably the former England manager Peter Taylor, who departed the club in March of 2022.
Rod Stringer currently occupies the technical area, and his side currently sit in the relegation zone, looking to avoid relegation from this division for the first time ever. In more recent and positive news for the Wings, Tuesday saw them reach the final of Kent Senior Cup, after a penalty shootout win over Dover. Their recent form has seen their fight from relegation suffer, with the wings four without a win including a 5-1 defeat and the hands of bottom of the division Weymouth.
Head 2 Head
The two sides have already faced off this season, with the first encounter taking place at Park View Road. Unfortunately for Welling, it was a match to forget, as Chippenham proved their dominance with a ruthless 4-0 victory back in November 2024. The Bluebirds wasted no time making their mark, taking control from the outset with a flurry of goals that left Welling struggling to keep up. It was just 8 minutes into the match when Chippenham took the lead, courtesy of a brilliant through ball from Harry Parsons that sliced through Welling’s defence. Leone Gravata calmly chipped the ball over Jordan Gillmore, giving the Bluebirds the early advantage. The pressure mounted quickly as Parsons made it 2-0 just 2 minutes later. A perfectly timed delivery from Tom Owen-Evans on the right found Parsons in the box, and he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner with precision. Before Welling could regroup, Chippenham struck again in the 13th minute. Tom Owen-Evans was at the centre of the action once more, this time chipping a delightful cross into the box. Owen-Evans spun past his marker and slotted it home to make it 3-0, a devastating blow for Welling. The game was all but sealed in the 77th minute when Chippenham completed their dominant performance. TOE bagged his second goal of the afternoon, completing a fantastic performance. After providing assists for the first two goals, he was on the receiving end of a perfectly delivered ball from McClure, who flashed it into the 6-yard box. TOE calmly finished into the right-hand corner to round off a memorable victory for the Bluebirds.
Ones to Watch
Looking ahead to Saturday’s match, there are a few players on the opposing side who could pose a serious goal threat to the Wings. First up is Gene Kennedy, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder who made the move to Welling on a free transfer during the summer after leaving Colchester United. Despite his role primarily being in the heart of midfield, Kennedy has proven to be a real attacking threat. He’s Welling’s top scorer so far this season, having found the back of the net 6 times in 33 appearances, which is no small feat for a player in his position. In total, he’s racked up an impressive 2,947 minutes of football this season, showing his consistency and work rate on the pitch.
Next is 23-year-old Josh Redfearn, a dynamic right footed forward who hails from New Zealand. Redfearn, who joined the club after playing for the likes Glenorchy, Auckland United and Waitakere United in his native homeland, has made an immediate impact since arriving at Welling. Though his time with the club has been relatively brief, spanning just four months, the striker has already scored 4 goals in 18 appearances. With 1,097 minutes of game time to his name, Redfearn has made every minute count, proving himself as a capable and dangerous attacking option for the Wings.
Lastly, we have Chlori Johnson, a 27-year-old right back who re-joined Welling in the summer after spells at Yeovil Town and Torquay United. Johnson, a former Arsenal youth academy product, has plenty of experience at a high level, which has certainly benefited his performances on the field. This season, he’s played 25 times for Welling, a total of 1,507 minutes of action. Though his primary role is in defence, Johnson has also managed to score 3 goals this season, highlighting his ability to contribute in more attacking situations when needed. With 54 appearances under his belt for Welling, Johnson’s experience makes him a player to keep an eye on.
Round-up
After a well-deserved week off, it’s time for the lads to return to action at the TSS this weekend, as Gary Horgan’s side looks to secure a third consecutive league victory. We’d like to wish safe travels to everyone making the journey from around the town this Saturday, as well as to all the players, officials, and supporters from Welling United who will be making the 142-mile trip to Wiltshire.
For those attending the game, please note that match tickets are only available for purchase at the gate, with both cash and card payments accepted. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults: £16, Senior Citizens*: £12, Juniors (16-17): £6, and Children (5-15): £4. *Senior Citizens with valid ID, Students with a student card, and serving Armed Forces personnel with an ID card are eligible for the discounted price. Cash and card payments can be made at the turnstiles on matchday.
If you can’t make it to the game, don’t worry! You can still follow all the action by tuning into our X account for full match updates starting from 14:45 pm (UK time).
After the match, we’ll also have Match Highlights and Post-Match reaction from Gary Horgan on our YouTube channel, so you won’t miss a thing!
See you Saturday, and as always COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS!!
