MATCH PREVIEW: Weston-super-Mare vs Chippenham Town | National League South | Wednesday 1st January 2025

Matt Chappell previews our first game of 2025 on the road to Weston-super-Mare AFC

The Bluebirds look to put their Boxing Day defeat behind them and focus on another big test as they kick off the new year with a tough trip to Weston-super-Mare AFC in the Vanarama National League South.

With the disappointment of the loss to Bath City still fresh, Chippenham will be eager to bounce back and make an impact in their first game of 2025 on the road.

Last Time Out

Chippenham’s hopes of claiming a long-awaited victory over their fierce rivals Bath City were dashed in front of a packed crowd of 1,716 spectators at the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium on Boxing Day.

The Bluebirds fell to a 3-0 defeat, marking the 19th consecutive year since they last triumphed at home against the Romans. The last win came back in 2005, during their days in the Southern Premier League, with a 2-0 score line.

The first half saw a promising start for Chippenham, who had two early opportunities to take the lead. In the 4th minute, Harry Parsons shot wide after receiving a pass, and just four minutes later, Tyreke Johnson found Alex Bray, but Bray’s attempt also went off target.

However, it wasn’t long before Bath City began to assert themselves. A deflected cross from Scott Wilson forced a diving save from Chippenham goalkeeper Will Henry, who was also forced into action shortly afterward, brilliantly tipping a header from a free kick over the bar to keep the Bluebirds level.

Despite Chippenham’s early resilience, Bath City took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Scott Wilson converted a penalty after Tom Mehew was penalized for a shirt pull on Jordan Tilson inside the box.In the second half, it was all Bath.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 50th minute when Will Henry saved a shot, only for former Chippenham forward Bradley Ash, now on loan from Torquay, to convert the rebound. Just eight minutes later, Bath made it 3-0 as Scott Wilson navigated past two Chippenham defenders before slotting the ball into the net, despite claims from the Bluebirds that he may have been offside. A close call that seemed to confirm Chippenham’s suspicions was visible in the highlights, but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

Chippenham, determined to claw back at least one goal, had a few more chances. Tom Mehew, who had been a standout performer, surged forward, beating three players as he sprinted nearly the length of the pitch. His cross eventually found Harry Parsons, but the forward was unable to convert the chance.

The final opportunity came in the dying minutes when substitute Matt McClure had a header that went wide, sealing Chippenham’s fate as the final whistle blew.

With Bath City now just three points behind Chippenham in the league standings, the Bluebirds ended 2023 on a sour note, still searching for their first win over their rivals in almost two decades.

Following the match, Chippenham manager Gary Horgan spoke to Jamie Oleszynski for his post-match reaction. Here’s what he had to say:

My thoughts were we haven’t really done an awful lot wrong, but yeah we just weren’t as good as we were last week, a lot of the performance we had last week we didn’t match and reach those heights.

We were the better side in both boxes but Bath defended really well.

We’re disappointed as compared to last week at Hornchurch, we weren’t clinical enough with final chances.

Our Opponents

Our hosts for New Year’s Day, Weston-super-Mare AFC, come into this match in excellent form. As of writing, they are positioned comfortably in the top eight of the Vanarama National League South and have gone unbeaten in their last 15 games, an impressive feat at this level of competition. Their run of form has made them one of the most in-form teams in the league, and their resilience and consistency will no doubt make them a tough opponent for Chippenham.

Many Bluebirds supporters will recall their own remarkable unbeaten run from a few years ago, which helped propel the team to the Emirates FA Cup 2nd Round.

Founded in 1887, Weston-super-Mare AFC has a long and storied history in English football, although much of that history has been spent in local and regional leagues.

The club’s early years saw them competing in various amateur competitions, but over time, they progressed through the tiers of the football pyramid.

Weston has largely spent its time in the lower divisions. In addition to their strong league form, Weston has also enjoyed success in the Emirates FA Cup this season.

They made it to the First Round Proper after defeating Lowestoft Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round. In the First Round, they faced Bristol Rovers but were defeated 3-1, marking the end of their cup run. Despite the loss, reaching the First Round Proper was a notable achievement for the club, and they will no doubt be eager to build on that momentum in the league.

One of the most memorable moments of Weston’s recent FA Cup campaign came in the Third Qualifying Round, where they famously knocked Chippenham out in a replay. After a goalless draw at #TheTSStadium, the two sides met again in a replay at Weston’s Optima Stadium, which we will talk more about this further down in the preview.

Famous / Familiar Faces

Given the close proximity between Chippenham and Weston-super-Mare, it’s no surprise that many players from both past and present have worn the Blue and White shirts of each club over the years. This local connection has helped to foster a unique rivalry between the two teams, with numerous players making the switch between the clubs over the seasons.

One of the most notable current pairings is Nick McCootie, a forward who previously played for Chippenham before moving to Weston-super-Mare AFC. McCootie enjoyed a solid spell at Chippenham, scoring 10 goals in 32 appearances, and became a key figure during his time at the club.

Another player familiar to Chippenham fans is Harvey Greenslade, who is currently on loan to Weston from Yeovil Town. Greenslade, a promising young forward, made 11 appearances for Chippenham on loan from Bristol Rovers in the 2022/23 season before joining Yeovil on a permanent transfer at the start of this season.

The most famous face to have emerged from Weston-super-Mare AFC in recent years is undoubtedly Ollie Watkins. The 28-year-old striker joined on loan from Exeter during the 2014-15 season, and he’s now currently playing for Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Watkins has been making waves in England’s top flight since joining Villa from Brentford in 2020, with his incredible form propelling him into one of the most prolific English forwards in the league.

As of writing, Watkins has scored 66 goals in 163 appearances for Villa during his tenure, establishing himself as a key figure in their attack and one of the most consistent strikers in the Premier League.In addition to his club success, Watkins has earned international recognition, having been called up to the England national team.

His most memorable contribution came during Euro 2024, where he scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner in a crucial match against the Netherlands. The goal secured a 2-1 victory for England and sent them into the final against Spain.

Head 2 Head

As for head-to-head statistics, the last few games have gone in Weston’s favour, with the last game, as mentioned previously, ending in a 1-0 defeat in the Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round replay.

Previous meetings in the league have also ended 2-1 and 1-0 to the hosts respectively.

The last win for Chippenham against our opponents was all the way back in February 2019, when Nat Jarvis netted in the 60th minute in a 1-0 win in the league.

Ones to Watch

We’ve picked three players who will most certainly be ones to look out for on the day:

1. Sam Pearson: The 23-year-old is a former Bristol City academy product. He left for Yeovil Town during the 2023/24 season but left after three months due to personal reasons, with his contract mutually terminated. Pearson signed for Weston at the start of this season and has scored 4 goals in 12 games, accumulating 1,025 minutes of play.

2. Luke Coulson: The 30-year-old midfielder joined Weston-super-Mare from Dartford at the start of this season. He has contributed the most for the Seagulls, scoring 9 goals in 20 matches and playing 1,709 minutes.

3. Reuben Reid: The experienced 36-year-old striker has played for clubs like Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle, West Brom, Walsall, and Brentford. Reid joined Weston in 2022 after leaving Yeovil Town and, in two seasons, has netted 17 times in 49 appearances.

Commentary

If you’re unable to join us at The Optima Stadium on Wednesday, you can tune in to Jamie Oleszynski’s LIVE Radio Match Commentary on Mixlr.

You will be able to listen in from 14:50 UK Time for the latest updates.

COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS!!