MATCH PREVIEW: Weston-super-Mare vs Chippenham Town | Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Replay | Tuesday 1st October 2024
Harry Minton previews our away game against Weston-super-Mare.
The Bluebirds travel to The Optima Stadium on Tuesday night where we face Weston-super-Mare in a replay of the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Previous Tie
Both sides played out a 1-1 draw at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday, with Reuben Reid scoring for the visitors and new signing Leon Gravata scoring a goal on his Chippenham debut.
You can catch up on all the action below.
Recent Encounters & Form
In this fixture, since these two teams have been in the sixth tier of English footballi, in Somerset there has been one draw and a win for either side. The win for our boys in blue came back in 2019 where we won by a goal to nil thanks to Nathaniel Jarvis’ header just before the hour mark sent us back to Wiltshire with all three points. A game that continued the Seagull’s misery that season as they themselves were relegated at the end to the Southern League Premier Division.
Last season though it was a win for Weston, despite Chippenham taking the lead after twenty minutes through a Tom Owen-Evans volley. Robbie Willmott equalised for the hosts just before the interval with a goal directly from a corner. Bluebird’s hearts were broken very late on in the game after our goalscorer brought down Kieran Thomas in the box. The referee had no choice but to award Weston-super-Mare a penalty. Up stepped Reid and the former EFL forward fired it hard and low into the bottom left corner, Will Henry went the right way however it was too powerful for the Chippenham number one to keep it out as the points were sealed for the Seagulls.
Weston-super-Mare are currently unbeaten in four league home games, the joint second longest streak so far alongside Chelmsford City. However, anything can happen in cup competitions, as they say form does go out the window.
One to Watch
Going into the game on Tuesday, one of the players to keep your eye on for the hosts has to be Reuben Reid, having scored against the Bluebirds on Saturday and also last season, he does have a decent reputation of scoring against the Wiltshire side.
Last season in the National League South he scored 12 goals which was a decent goal return for a club who finished mid table.
Potential Opponents
It is set to be an enthralling encounter this Tuesday night, if the game does end in a draw after the 90 minutes then there will be extra time and penalties to follow if needed.
A fourth round qualifying round tie away against either Haringey Borough or Lowestoft Town is in store for the winners of this tie.
Come on you Bluebirds!!
