MATCH PREVIEW: Met Police vs Chippenham Town | Emirates FA Cup 3QR, Sat 1st Oct 2022
Simon Lawrence previews our upcoming Emirates FA Cup game against Metropolitan Police FC
Chippenham Town return to the Emirates FA Cup this weekend as they hope to ‘SWAT’ away the potential banana skin of Southern Premier League contenders, Metropolitan Police FC. The Bluebirds will be going to ‘COURT’ this weekend, specifically Imber Court with the ‘LOOT’ on offer is a whopping £5,625. Chippenham Town ‘CHIEF’ Gary Horgan will be hoping after a ‘RESPONSE’ after his much-changed side were ‘BEAT’ by Slough Town FC on Tuesday night.
In front of 511 supporters, Chippenham were hoping to extend their unbeaten run at home to 7 games but unfortunately for Horgan and his men, they came up against a Slough team that were a ‘FORCE’ to be reckoned with from the off. A quick start from the Rebels was halted when Callum Gunner went in strong on Slough Town forward, Ben Harris. The Slough bench felt the challenge ‘WARRANTED’ a foul but the man in the middle waved the play on. Chippenham proceeded to move up the park and lay ‘SIEGE’ to the Slough Town box and it was the turn of the Chippenham bench to be in uproar as Noah Coppin was bundled over in the penalty area but referee Lewis Sandoe ‘BAILED’ the visitors out and the ‘CULPRIT’ was found ‘NOT GUILTY’ much to the dismay of Gary and his team. A few chances for either side were exchanged with PC Joe Hanks looking particularly lively throughout. However, sadly for Chippenham the ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ came when the referee ‘JUDGED’ Joe Parker to be in violation of the ‘LAWS’ of the game and a free kick right in front of the dugout was headed away as far as Dan Roberts whose cross ‘EVADED’ the Chippenham defenders in the area and found the head of Josh Jackman whose powerful header made its way past a scrambling Will Henry. It turned out to be the decisive act in game of few chances and saw Slough Town ‘ABSCOND’ with the 3 points and head back to Arbour Park.
The Opposition
So, disappointed but by no means despondent, we turn our attention to the Metropolitan Police this weekend as we look to ‘BOOK’ our place in the Emirates FA Cup 4th Qualifying round. As mentioned, ‘THE OLD BILL’ play their home fixtures at the 3000 capacity, Imber Court facility in East Molesly and are managed by Gavin MacPherson who’s got ‘PREVIOUS’ with clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Carlisle, Barnet, Wealdstone and Woking. Formed in 1919, The Metropolitan Police FC were originally founded as a club made up of employees of the Metropolitan Police Service however, this is no longer the case after the Commissioner declared he would no longer sanction time off for playing.
However, to this day the club still retain the name, play at the same ground and are part-funded by the Police Staff Lottery. The ‘BLUES AND TWO’S’ are currently in the Southern Premier League and finished last season in 4th place. This earned ‘THE MET’ a coveted place in the SPL Playoffs where they would meet 3rd place finishes and eventual playoff winners, Farnborough. It was heartbreak for the ‘MET’ as an 85th minute goal looked to be sending them to a playoff final date with Hayes and Yeading before a 90th minute equalizer followed by a 96th minute winner ‘SENTENCED’ them to another season in the Southern Premier League.
After racking the archives, I cannot find a meeting between the two sides on record and after further ‘INVESTIGATION’ I can confirm this will be the first time the two sides ‘CLASH’ (That’s a clever one). However, the ‘MET are no strangers to the Emirates FA Cup and will be looking to get past their higher league opponents for a ‘SHOT’ at making the First Round Proper for the 3rd time in recent history. The ‘MET’ have made the First Round Proper both in 2012-13 and 2018-19 where on both occasions they were ‘SENT DOWN’ by league opposition in Crawley and Newport respectively.
The ‘MET’ unsurprisingly don’t boast any former Bluebirds in their ‘RANKS’ and links to the club are very hard to come by although the Bluebirds will need to be aware of lively front man Herson Alves who already has 5 league goals this season. Famous faces are a bit a ‘STRETCH’ for this one as well with very few big names ever having turned out for ‘THE OLD BILL’ however, Bradley Hudson-Odoi did have a spell with the ‘MET’ in 2013-2015 and he once shared a ‘CELL’ (Bedroom) with Chelsea and England winger and little brother Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Bluebirds News
Every manager worth his salt will tell you “There are positives to be taken in every defeat” and Gary Horgan took it on the chin Tuesday and said perhaps he rested one too many players against Slough which could have affected their chances of getting something from the game on Tuesday. However, the positive from this is that Jordan Young, Caine Bradbury, Luke Russe, Will King, Spencer Hamilton and Alefe Santos will be raring to go after missing out on the starting XI against the Rebels. Minutes in the legs of Aaron Simpson, Tom Mehew and Noah Coppin will also prove vital for Horgs as he almost has a full squad to choose from with only Alex Bray under ‘SURVEILANCE’ due to his Hamstring.
Most people think when it comes to the Emirates FA Cup that the side from the higher league have some divine right to start as favourites and to lose a tie to a side beneath you in the pyramid would be ‘CRIMINAL’ however, the ‘MET’ provide a stern test for the Bluebirds especially on their home turf and it would be amazing to see as many of the #BLUEARMY in attendance to help get the lads over the ‘THIN BLUE LINE’ (God I am running out of these) There is no Supporters Coach running due to lack of demand but please, if you are travelling or thinking of travelling. Pop the word out to the socials, see if you can find a companion to share the cost and get as many of you as possible up to support the lads and your support is vital in games like this. Not only where it could be the extra push needed to get a vital goal that could bag us a 4th round tie and the prize money but also because we get to share the gate in the Emirates FA Cup and as many people there as possible increase our chances of making the best amount on the Emirates FA Cup run. We all know how vital these funds are to clubs of our size and stature so make your way in your masses and come and get behind the boys.
This is Simon Lawrence ‘OVER AND OUT’
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
