MATCH PREVIEW | Chippenham vs Dorking Wanderers | Enterprise National League South | Saturday 9th August
Pre-season is finally over, and League action returns as we host Dorking
League action returns after 105 days, as we host defeated in the playoffs last season, Dorking Wanderers.
Despite the lack of competitive football, it has been a very busy summer with 8 signings in through the door.
The most recent two to be announced have been pacey-forward Sol Wanjau-Smith and young defender Cole Fleming, who were both signed following successful trial performances against Hereford.
Our last pre-season friendly saw Ezio Toruay score a brace for us to go two up, with ‘Trialist’ later revealed as Wanjau-Smith netting the winner late on.
The opposition
Dorking Wanderers spent last season as one of the front runners for the title, and were one of six teams who could have won the title on the final day. They fell into the playoffs, curtosey of draws at Bath, St Albans and Worthing.
Their playoff against Boreham Wood was one of the most eventful in history, as two own-goals and a Jason Prior strike gave them a 3-1 lead into the final 10 minutes.
3 late goals from the Wood, compelted the comeback and dumped the Wanderers out of the promotion race. That week would go from bad to worse for Dorking, as they lost out on the Surrey Senior cup to Walton & Hersham.
Over the summer they have strengthened with three major signings, with Gibraltar international centre-half Louie Annesley being the most high-profile. They have also signed Dennon Lewis from Woking and Frank Vincent from recently relegated Dagenham & Redbridge.
Fixture History
Our match with Dorking sees a break from the quirks of the footballing calendar, as this fixture will be the first to be played at the Thornbury Surfacing outside of December.
Dorking have visited Wiltshire three times before, (December 2019, December 2021 and December 2024), with the Wanderers winning 2-0 in 2019 and a comeback 2-1 victory in 2024. The 2021 affair is the most memorable from our side of things, with Harry Parsons netting a first-half hattrick on our way to a 4-1 victory against the eventual playoff winners.
Our record in away matches against Dorking are a shade worse than at home, as in our three visits two Meadowbank we have lost on all three occasions.
Danger men
Dorking’s squad this season only has two recognised centre-forwards, but the Wanderers are at no loss with the calibre of the two. Alfie Rutherford netted 20 league goals last season, the 4th highest in the league, one of which was in MW2 last season, in our visit to Meadowbank.
Their 2nd centre-forward is Jason Prior has been with Dorking since 2018, negating a short spell with Havant & Waterlooville, and has scored 80 goals across Step 1+2.
Along with the lack of clear centre-forwards, there is a slight hole at centre-half with just three in their squad. Dan Gallagher, brother or Athletic Madrid’s Connor, new signing Annesley and 40 year-old Tony Craig provide the thin squad depth for a side that often elect for a back three.
We hope that supporters are as excited as we are for the start of the new season, and if you wish to join us you can with online tickets now on sale via our Eventbrite page!
Come on you Bluebirds! 💙
