MATCH PREVIEW: Salisbury vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Tuesday 17th February
We go toe-to-toe with Salisbury on Tuesday night, Charlie Sugg previews the action
Chippenham make the short trip to Salisbury for the second Wiltshire derby of the season under the floodlights, a rearranged fixture from January 27th.
The opposition
Salisbury started the season with new ownership and made some well known EFL signings like Matt Taylor former Bristol Rovers, Bristol City and Oxford United striker as well centre-half Tom Davies with his former clubs including the likes of Portsmouth, Coventry, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere. The Whites’ season had a very disappointing start to the campaign not winning a league game until match week 12 having lost six and drawn six. Salisbury didn’t a cup run this season losing in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round replay to Dorking 4-2. Their FA Trophy run was ended short, losing 4-3 away to Plymouth Parkway in the 2nd round.
The Wiltshire derby fixture history
The sides played regularly during the Western League Division 2 days and our last meeting with Salisbury FC coming on the 1st of May 1939 in one of The Whites’ last matches before extinction. After the war the newly formed Salisbury would play Chippenham in the Western League between the mid 1940’s and late 1960’s. The first cup meeting between the two teams came in the 1951/52 season and thanks to a replay the Bluebirds would beat the Whites 2-1 in the FA Cup. In recent times, our first competitive meeting with the new Salisbury FC side came in the 2016/17 FA Trophy, with Dave Pratt scoring a brace, as the Bluebirds ran out 3-2 winners. Our first league meeting came last season where Chippenham fell short in both the home and the away fixture losing 1-0 and 3-2 respectively. This season’s reverse fixture was a 2-2 draw, with CTFC coming back from two down with an own goal and Henry Sady’s Olimpico.
Familiar Faces
Noah Coppin – The former CTFC academy graduate left Chippenham for Salisbury at the start of the 2023/24 season. His most memorable moment in a blue shirt would be his late winner at home against Hungerford which gave Chippenham the chance to reach the play offs in the National League South for the first time in their history and CTFC took their chance the following week against Havant and Waterlooville.
Mo Dabre – The 23 year old joined Chippenham on loan from Swindon in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign and played an important role in helping Chippenham achieve the playoffs. Dabre featured 13 times for the Bluebirds and played the full 120 minutes of our win against Dartford to react the playoff semi-finals. Dabre joined Salisbury on loan from Sutton United during a busy time period in December for a month but has clearly impressed for The Whites and has recently signed on a permanent basis.
Dangermen
Noah Coppin – Coppin has been a danger in front of goal this season for Salisbury as he is their top goal scorer this season scoring on nine occasions helping Salisbury climb up the table.
Joshua Hedges – The attacker has returned to The Whites this season after short spell at Chelmsford. Hedges has always been a threat in attack featuring 27 times and is currently sat on five goals this season.
Supporter Information
This game is segregated, therefore supporters CTFC should purchase the AWAY ticket if purchasing online.
Had you already purchased a ticket for the first fixture, your ticket remains valid.
Pay on the Gate tickets are not available on the turnstile and must be purchased online or at the ticket office.
Stand transfer is £1 and there is a £2 charge for parking.
Not making the journey to Salisbury? Join Nathan Potter on MIXLR from 19.30 for all of the build-up and action!
See you in Salisbury Bluebirds! 💙
