MATCH PREVIEW: Cirencester Town vs Chippenham Town | Pre-Season Friendly, Sat 23rd July 2022
Matt Chappell previews our forthcoming Pre-Season clash away to Cirencester Town
The 2022/23 Pre-Season games are quickly coming and going, as we count down towards August 6th at Ebbsfleet United. This Saturday, we make the small trip across the A429 towards The Corinium Stadium to face Cirencester Town in our fifth Pre-Season friendly.
Chippenham come into this game off the back of a 3-0 defeat to a Bristol City XI at #TheTSStadium on Tuesday night, with goals from Olly Thomas, Tommy Backwell and Seb Palmer-Houlden giving the Young Robins the victory and the Bluebirds another big test towards the start of the 2022/23 season. Despite the
result, Gary Horgan saw positives from the game, giving opportunities to young Academy prospects Keelan Bryne and Ethan Witchell, speaking to Jamie Oleszynski on BlueArmy TV’s Post-Match Reaction, Gary said: “We’re trying to nurse people through towards the start of the season, we’ve come out of the games without any injuries, which I thought was good for us”.
Tuesday also saw the return of Luke Russe onto the pitch as a Chippenham Town player once again, after agreeing terms for the forthcoming season ahead and the debut of Pablo Martinez, the highly rated Welsh defender who was on the books of Bristol Rovers last season. Russe came onto the pitch towards the end of the 2nd half and managed to put in a good shift for the last 15 minutes. Pablo made his official debut for the pitch and got a full 45 minutes under his belt in the second half. Both will get plenty more Opportunities in the remaining three Pre-Season friendlies with Cirencester, Cardiff, and Melksham respectively.
Our opponents for Saturday, Cirencester Town currently apply their trade in the Southern League Division One Central for the forthcoming season, after previously being in the South division for the past few years, they are currently managed by John Brough who took charge towards the end of 2019, after previous Manager and ex-Bluebirds legends Alan & Charlie Griffin were at the helm for the last few seasons before. Many Supporters will remember the 2019/20 Emirates FA Cup between both Chippenham Town and Cirencester, as both sides faced off in a intense 11-goal thriller over the course of two games, before the #Bluebirds advanced 4-3 in what was one of the most talked about Cup games ever.
It promises to be another good 90 minutes for Gary Horgan’s #BlueArmy, and if you’re interested in attending the game, then here’s some brief information for you. Cirencester’s ground is located at: Cirencester Town Football Club, Kingshill Ln, Cirencester GL7 1HS. Tickets are available to purchase on the gate – (£6 Adults, £4 Concessions and £2 U18’s).We hope to see you all there, COME ON CHIPPENHAM!
