MATCH PREVIEW: Worthing v Chippenham Town | National League South | Saturday 12th April 2025
Declan Wright previews our trip to the coast
The penultimate away trip for the Bluebirds sees Chippenham travel to West Sussex to face high-flying Worthing in the Vanarama National League South. The game will be played at Woodside Road, on Saturday 12th April 2025. Chippenham will come into this game as underdogs due to the current league standings but will look to gain 3 points away from home to finish the 2024/25 season on a high.
Last Time Out
For the Bluebirds, it was a tough afternoon playing Chelmsford at the Thornbury Surfacing Stadium, with the final score being 1-0 to Chelmsford. Both teams in the first half had little chances, with the major point being a good 1-on-1 save by Chippenham number one Will Henry. In the second half, like the first half, it seemed a cagey affair—that could be due to both teams’ league positions—but the only major chance of the second half was the only goal of the game. Chelmsford number 27 was twisting and turning and crossed the ball onto Kane Crichlow’s head and past Will Henry. Chippenham did have a chance to equalise with a trademark Luke Haines long throw that met Freddie Grant’s head and, after a scramble in the box, it fell to Harry Parsons who hit it over the bar.
Worthing also lost their last game in a top-of-the-table clash with Truro. Worthing conceded an early goal in the second minute through a shot from the edge of the area and a mishap of communication between the goalkeeper and defender. Worthing did then equalise through a penalty by top goalscorer Danny Cashman, who struck the penalty to the right side of the goal. In the second half, Truro then scored the winner through a long ball over everyone, eventually falling to loanee Luke Jephcott who sticks it past the Worthing goalkeeper.
Our Opponents
Our opponents this weekend will be Worthing FC, nicknamed The Rebels or The Mackerel Men, and they were founded in 1886. This weekend’s game will be played at the home of The Rebels which is Woodside Road, with a capacity of 3,150. Worthing currently sit 2nd in the league and only goal difference differs them from the top spot. They would like to go one step further this season and gain promotion, as last season they finished 3rd and lost in the play-off final to Braintree Town in extra time after beating Maidstone in the play-off semi-final with an 89th-minute winner by Ollie Pearce.
The Mackerel Men are currently managed by Chris Agutter who joined the club at the end of the 2023/2024 season but fully started his role at Worthing this season. He has previous experience in managing at both senior level and academy, with managing Hastings, Stevenage Under 18 and Under 21, Brighton and Hove Albion youth, and Eastbourne Borough academy, where he was also the assistant manager. With 1.9 points per game this season, this shows that Worthing have so far made a successful appointment and Chris has made Worthing a tough team to beat.
Ones to Watch
For the Bluebirds fans, we have picked out a player that they should look out for in the Worthing team. This player being Danny Cashman, a 24-year-old attacker who currently is The Rebels’ top goalscorer this season with an impressive 16 goals and has been pivotal for Worthing since joining them in September 2023. He started his football journey in the Brighton and Hove Albion academy set-up where he also captained the Under 18 teams and also represented England at Under 16 and Under 17 levels. Cashman then joined Coventry City after 9 years with Brighton, and immediately joined EFL side Rochdale on loan. The next season he was loaned back into the EFL with Walsall and National League with Altrincham, where 2 unsuccessful loan spells meant he left Coventry and later joined our opponents this weekend. For Worthing, he has scored 23 goals in 57 games and last season scored 2 goals in the game at Woodside Road.
Round-Up
So the stage is set and for Chippenham it is a chance to finish this season with confidence. With tough games incoming and this one being as hard as they get, the support will be needed—so if you can, please come travel to West Sussex to come cheer on Gary and the players and become the 12th man.
COME ON YOU BLUEBIRDS!
