MATCH PREVIEW: Ebbsfleet United vs Chippenham Town | Vanarama National League South Playoff Semi-Final, Sunday 15th May 2022

Matt Chappell previews our National League South play-off semi-final game away to Ebbsfleet United.

Chippenham Town are just 90 minutes away from a potential trip to Dorking Wanderers in the National League South Playoff Final, however they face a tough test ahead of them tomorrow afternoon, when we make the trip to The Kuflink Stadium to face Ebbsfleet United for the third time this season in the Vanarama National League South Playoff Semi-Final.

The #Bluebirds will be going into this game off the back of a thrilling 120 minutes of football and an intense Penalty shoot-out with Dartford at Princes Park, this past Thursday. Alefe Santos sealing the win by slotting the ball into the bottom right, past Reice Charles-Cook to send Chippenham Town into tomorrow’s Semi-Final clash after an earlier penalty by Olumide Durojaiye was saved by Will Henry. Gary Horgan’s men created plenty of earlier chances with most notably Alefe Santos striking the bar in the second-half, and Spencer Hamilton attempting to score off the rebound but was unable to as he sliced it wide. Both sides created plenty of chances throughout the full 120 minutes of Normal and Extra Time. Jordan Young and Danny Greenslade’s penalties were saved however Tom Mehew, Noah Coppin and Alefe Santos’s winning penalty were enough to send them through.

Ebbsfleet United will be looking to seal the victory in their 15th play-off game in 11 years at The Kuflink Stadium tomorrow, but manager Dennis Kutrieb will know that the next 90 minutes ahead will be crucial for his side, as recent meetings between The Fleet and The Bluebirds have always had it’s fair share of action. Both sides have already met twice this season, and many people will be talking about the most recent meeting between the pair, as Chippenham sealed a point on the road, following end-to-end drama at The Kuflink Stadium. Joe Hanks’s strike from 25 yards out and Will Richards’s header from a corner gave Chippenham two crucial goals, however our hosts settled for a 2-2 draw with goals from Elliott Romain and Chris Solly to stop the Bluebirds, taking all three points from a few weeks ago.

Dennis Kutrieb can always turn to his prolific goalscorers this season, with Rakish Bingham netting 12 goals in 30 appearances this season and Dominic Poleon, who caused nightmares at #TheTSStadium back in the early part of the season, netting 17 goals in a remarkable 40 appearances. There’s also other players to keep an eye open for, Craig Tanner and Elliott Romain both have 7 goals this season each.

What ever happens tomorrow, Gary Horgan, Matt Coupe and his squad will be forever proud of Chippenham’s run-up to get to this stage, having sent Havant & Waterlooville out of the Playoff contention, and also sending Dartford out of the Playoff Eliminator stage. Can the Bluebirds make it into the final with a tough task ahead of themselves, and setup a grand finale at Meadowbank next Saturday at Dorking Wanderers?

We hope to see you all at The Kuflink Stadium tomorrow afternoon, every supporter has done their bit this season to rally behind the troops, and Sunday will just be another one! We will be sending two 61-seater Supporters Coaches to the ground tomorrow, so that just shows the #BlueArmy will be out in FULL FORCE for the biggest game of the club’s season and history when you think about it!

Tickets will no longer be available to purchase at The Bluebirds Bar for this game tomorrow, as this game is a ALL-TICKET match, YOU MUST HAVE A PRE-PAID TICKET prior to travelling to The Kuflink Stadium tomorrow, you will not be allowed entry without one of these tickets!

Our hosts, have informed us that Away supporters only can access via the Swanscombe End turnstiles.

For those who have purchased tickets for the game tomorrow, and have also got their space on the Supporters Coach. The coaches leave #TheTSStadium at 10am on the dot, so we ask all supporters to please arrive and be ready at 9:45am.

The Club Shop will be opening from 9am, if anyone wants to bag some last-minute merchandise before the long trip down to Kent.

We hope to see as many of you pack out The Kuflink Stadium tomorrow, for what promises to be another exciting clash. BE THE 12TH MAN, COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS!