MATCH PREVIEW: Eastbourne Borough vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Tuesday 11th November

The second of back to back away matches is a visit to East Sussex

CTFC will travel to Eastbourne Borough on a Tuesday night, for the rearranged Match week 11 fixture postponed due to cup progression for both sides.

The opposition

Formed in 1965, 60 years ago, as Langey Sports FC the club would be renamed just after the turn of the millennium. Langey started out life as a club in the Eastbourne & District Football League

As the Sussex League took a new form in in 1983, they would become founding members of the third division. Langey earned successive title wins in 1977 and 1978 to reach the third division.

Another title win in 2000 earned them progress into the Southern League for the first time.

After just four seasons in the Southern League structure they became inaugural members of the Conference South. Four seasons at this level preceded a playoff final win against Hampton & Richmond to earn promotion to the National League.

Three seasons fighting relegation at Step One was too much, and in 2010/11 they finished second bottom of the table and with relegation back to the Conference South. They have consistently remained at this level since, with only Chelmsford City having a longer spell in the division.

25/26 calls for the Sports’ 15th consecutive season in the division, with their time spent closer towards the drop zone rather than the playoff positions. Pre-pandemic the Sports had three consecutive 18th placed finishes, with the 21/22 giving Eastbourne a 6th placed finish and a playoff berth. Whilst they would lose to Oxford City in the Eliminator it was progress.

The playoffs called again last season, as the Sports were one of the six-way final day title fight. Despite a final day win against Weston-super-Mare other sides’ victories meant a playoff semi-final spot only. They would lose ultimately to Maidstone, with an Aaron Blair last minute winner.

This season has been one of disappointment so far for the Sports, as they sit 23rd in the League table, with Matt Gray sacked in October and Tommy Widdrington would replace him at the helm. Eastbourne have won their two league matches this season in their last six, over both Maidenhead and Enfield. Their last two matches have both been losses, at home to Dagenham & Redbridge and Weston-super-Mare both 2-1. The most recent, Saturday to WSM, was in the final moments, having scored a late goal themselves through Kai Corbett.

Fixture History

We first met in the Dr Martens Southern Premier League in 2003, as we lost 1-0 at home, with a 2-1 win away from home. Eastbourne left the Southern League system that season, so we did not meet again until 2017, as we joined them in the National League South.

Our first NLS campaign saw 10 goals across the two games, a 4-2 loss away from home and a 4-0 win at home.

The high scoring matches subsided until 2023, and each of the last four fixtures have seen one team score at least three.

Despite the taste for goals in his fixture we have never managed a win away from home during the National League South battles, and only once have we managed a point. That point came in October of 2021 as a brace of Harvey Bunker penalties gave us a lead before being pegged back by a late home penalty from Joshua Oyinsan in a game that we were reduced to 10.

Dangermen

Pemi Aderoju – Aderoju is The Sports’ top scorer this season, as he has scored six times in the league this campaign. His strikes against Farnborough, Slough and Ebbsfleet secured draws for the Sports, with a brace against Enfield earning them a win. Aderoju has only failed to start one match this campaign, and has played the most minutes of anyone else in the Sports’ squad.

George Alexander – Alexander is familiar to most at Step 2 level, having played for five clubs across the level. Alexander is perhaps a bogey player for us, having scored six and assisted twice against us in just six league appearances, we are his favourite opponent in regards to goal contributions. That record is largely held up by his four goal haul in our 6-1 defeat at Slough, but he has also netted for Chelmsford and his current side Eastbourne against us. Alexander has yet to score or assist this season, and has not appeared since early October. Alexander currently has 49 goals in the National League South.

Freddie Carter – Carter, a centre-half, has been almost ever-present for the Sports, playing in every match bar The Sports’ defeat to Horsham. Carter began his career with Eastbourne’s U18’s before transition to Gillingham’s U18’s as a professional. Carter returned from Kent in July of 2023, and has played 63 times in the League for the Sports. From centre-half Carter has scored three league goals this campaign.

Supporter Information

We will be bringing you live radio match commentary on MIXLR; tune in from 19.35 for all of the action.

If you are making the journey to Eastbourne, tickets can be purchased online via this link. Both Cash & Card payments are accepted for Pay on the Gate tickets.

See you in East Sussex Blue Army 💙