MATCH PREVIEW: Hornchurch vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Saturday 21st December 2024

Harry Minton previews our trip to Upminster in the Vanarama National League South

The games are coming thick and fast over the festive period, and this weekend is a trip to Essex for our boys in black as they take on Hornchurch away.

Now, this will in fact mark the first-ever meeting between Hornchurch and Chippenham, funnily enough, with the hosts having been on a rollercoaster of emotions since they reformed back in 2005. They have had four separate promotions (including last season) and also two relegations across a nineteen-year period.

Last season was one of the Urchins’ most memorable campaigns, as after being denied in the playoffs the previous two years in the Isthmian League Premier Division, this time they went ahead and won the league, breaking the one-hundred-point barrier along the way too!

This will be a tough match for the Bluebirds, as Gary Horgan’s boys will be looking for a reaction after losing their last three games on the bounce. Last time out, it was a 2-1 defeat at home to Dorking Wanderers in a disappointing game where we took the lead in the first half through a Leone Gravata goal, but sadly couldn’t hold out against a Dorking side who have scored the most goals this season out of any National League South side.

Hornchurch will feel confident going into this match, coming off the back of a five-match unbeaten run in the league, with three wins and two draws in that run. Last time out for the Urchins was a 1-1 draw away to 9th-placed Eastbourne Borough, which isn’t a bad result by any means.

The main player to keep your eye on for the opposition this weekend is Liam Nash, who is the leading goalscorer this season with seven goals in the league. For the boys in blue, Harry Parsons is an obvious threat with six goals to his name in the league so far this year. But also, Leone Gravata will be a player Hornchurch hopes to keep quiet, as he has been crucial for the Bluebirds since his loan move from York, picking up a load of goals and assists in his short spell in Wiltshire so far.

It’s certainly going to be a tough game away from home, but this Chippenham team is always capable of picking up a result. Come on, you Bluebirds!!!