MATCH PREVIEW: Weston-super-Mare vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Tuesday 19th December 2023

The Bluebirds are in league action under the lights on Tuesday, as we make the short trip across Bristol to face Weston-super-Mare AFC in a re-arranged fixture, that was originally postponed due to a waterlogged pitch a month ago.

The Bluebirds come into this fixture of the back of a 1-1 draw this past Saturday, against “The Terras” Weymouth FC, which was played out in-front of 691 supporters. Chippenham started the game out the starting block with a flurry of chances in the opening twenty minutes before took the lead on twenty minutes when Dan Ellison’s crunching but fair tackle left Dan Roberts needing medical attention but prior to that the ball shot forward where Ed Williams found Tom Mehew who fired past Gerard Benfield with a sweetly struck low-driven effort. On the half hour mark, Freddie Grant’s cross saw Caine Bradbury’s shot blocked followed by Will Henry then saving Dan Roberts’s diving header whilst another cross from Teddy Howe was headed wide by Charlie Rowan, Weymouth continued to press Dan Roberts again headed a cross wide, A defensive mistake from Chippenham Town presented Roberts with another opportunity but Will Henry saved well before half time break.

After the break, Weymouth got one back on 52 minutes when Harry Parsons, who once featured for Chippenham Town while on loan from Swindon Town, but now on loan at Weymouth from Maidenhead United, ran on to a through ball to shoot past Will Henry. The Bluebirds look to capitalise after conceeding the goal with a shot from Ed Williams that was saved by Benfield whilst a Luke Spokes corner was dropped by the keeper but cleared to safety. Chippenham looked to get a last-minute with in stoppage time with Spokes again shooting from distance, however his shot went wide and Saturday’s game came to an end with both sides sharing the points in Wiltshire and Chippenham moving up to 14th place in the table with 29 points at the time of writing.

Weston-super-Mare, known as “The Seagulls” returned to the National League South after a four-year hiatus and being relegated in the 2018/19 season.

Weston were crowned champions last season after an emphatic 4-1 win against Hendon to return back ahead of the current campaign, and in the process another local side re-joining the league for us to face off in the so-called “National League West”, along with the likes of Yeovil, Bath, Torquay, Taunton and so on.

The side are currently managed by Scott Bartlett, the former AFC Bournemouth youngster joined Salisbury in February 2000 where in nine years he played over 400 games for the whites as he was part of a side that won a Southern Premier League title and a play-off win in the Conference South back in the mid-2000’s. Scott’s other clubs include Bath, Forest Green and also Weston-Super-mare before retiring with a knee injury in 2011. He moved to management with FGR before leaving in 2019 to re-join Weston as a manager on a 3 year deal for their first Southern League campaign.

The Seagulls have started their first season back in the National League South at 12th place with 30 points (at the time of writing) being beaten 3-2 against Truro City on the road this weekend, but prior to defeat, Weston enjoyed a four-match winning streak most notably beating Worthing 4-0 a few weeks back, they have also enjoyed ISUZU FA Trophy success recently, beating National League Premier side Woking 3-2 in the Third Round a week ago.

As for Ones to Watch, we’ve picked a handful of familar faces to look out for Tuesday. Former Bath City players Rex Mannings and Alex Fletcher have played for WSM so far this season, Rex has featured 17 times with only 1 goal to his name, and Fletcher has featured 4 time so far this season, since joining from the Romans a few months ago.

Other names include Marlon Jackson, who’s played 9 times with 3 goals, the former Bluebird forward joined Weston two seasons ago. As mentioned earlier, Dayle Grubb is another, he’s netted 4 times in 17 appearances to his name.

The final is Reuben Reid, a forward with an established career, (WBA, Rotherham United, FGR, Yeovil and Cheltenham Town to name a few) has netted 7 times in 19 apperances so far this season.

Weston have boasted a few notable players in their ranks throughout the years, and many will remember the name – Dayle Grubb, who currently plays for WSM. The 32-year-old midfielder, who started his career at Weston, featured 298 times with 86 goals to his name for nine years from 2009 to 2018, before moving to Forest Green Rovers for two seasons, featuring 56 times with 8 goals and being loaned out to Eastleigh on his only loan move in his career. He moved back to Weston in 2020 during the pandemic and has remained the club with 90 goals in 41 apperances so far in his second spell.

Other players who may be recognisable who have played for the Seagulls include retired midfielder Danny Bailey, who has also featured for Chippenham Town in the early 2000’s, Vinnie Harper who also has played for Chippenham and currently at Exeter City, more former Bluebirds player in Jennison Myrie-Williams, Darren Mullings, Paul Trego and Dave Gilroy to name a few, and not to forget Scott Wilson and Jerry Gill who are currently associated with Bath City, our back-to-back opponents in a few weeks time in the A4 Derby.

Many Bluebirds supporters will be delighted with the news that Dan Ellison signed contract terms with Chippenham for 18 months, after attracting interest from clubs higher in the pyramid, the academy graduate has scored 3 times so far this season and now with Dan tied down to contract, the squad have a hugely talented defender at their ranks, and another player who’s made the jump from the Academy to the First team setup along with the likes of current players Mal Nicholls, Will King and Caine Bradbury, and former Chippenham players Ola Lawal who now plays for Falkirk and Ben Hughes who now plays for Swansea City’s academy setup.

We of course look forward to seeing you all join us on the road this Tuesday, if you’re planning to join us on the road then be advised that tickets are ‘pay on the day’ via the turnstiles unless otherwise advertised, turnstiles open 90 minutes before the advertised match kick-off time.

Ticket prices are as follows: Adults £14, Concessions £10, Under 16’s £4.50, Under 8’s FREE and Family Ticket: £28

As always, be loud and be proud! Let’s get behind Horgs, Coupes, Sharps and the lads and as always COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS!! See you Tuesday!