MATCH REPORT: Weston-super-Mare 1-3 Chippenham Town | National League South | Wednesday 1st January 2025

The Bluebirds gained a modicum of revenge for their FA Cup exit to the Seagulls as they started 2025 with a convincing New Year Day’s victory at the sea-side.

The Bluebirds started strongly with Tyreke Johnson’s third minute cross seeing Harry Parsons unable to make clean contact and his shot went wide.

Five minutes later Sam Pearson saw his headed effort held by Will Henry.

A quick counter attack from Pearson saw him find Reuben Reid who shot wide.

The Bluebirds opened the scoring on thirteen minutes as Johnson’s cross was headed home by Will Dawes.

Weston replied with two efforts from Pearson which were both off target.

Midway through the half Henry made a good double save as he first denied Pearson before saving Reid’s follow-up effort with his feet.

Chippenham doubled their lead on the half hour as a through ball found Parsons who dinked the ball over Max Harris in the Seagulls goal.

Eight minutes later a Johnson cross ended with Dawes just failing to find the target from eight yards out.

Before the break Raphael Araoye headed wide from a Luke Coulson free kick.

HALF TIME: Weston-super-Mare 0-2 Chippenham Town

Weston pulled a goal back three minutes into the second half as Coulson won a fifty fifty ball in midfield and the ball fell to Reid who went on to round Henry and score.

The Bluebirds restored their two goal lead on fifty four minutes as Harris blocked an effort from Dawes the ball went out wide but was returned by Alex Bray for Dawes to dink over Harris.

Just before the hour Pearson was wide with a half-volley.

A further effort from Pearson saw Henry again come out on top.

On seventy four minutes the Seagulls’ James Dodd’s shot went past a post.

An effort from Reid then cannoned off the woodwork.

Substitute Nick McCootie, a former Bluebird player, then had a shot on eighty three minutes that went straight at Henry.

On eighty six minutes a Coulson corner was hooked over the bar by substitute Kieran Thomas.

In stoppage time a speculative Coulson shot from distance went over the bar as the Bluebirds comfortably saw out time.

FULL TIME: Weston-super-Mare 1-3 Chippenham Town

Chippenham: Will Henry, Alex Bray (Lewis Colwell 82), Luke Haines, Nat Williams, Tyreke Johnson, Luke Spokes Joe Andrews, Tom Mehew (Will King 90), Will Dawes (Tom Owen-Evans 72), Harry Parsons, Leone Gravata subs not used: Jac Poffley, Matt McClure

Weston SM: Max Harris, Dylan Kadji (Jordan Bastin 46), Sam Avery (Nick McCootie 81), Jacob Jagger-Cane, James Dodd, Reuben Reid, Sam Pearson, Luke Coulson, Raphael Araoye, Emlyn Lewis, Ollie Chamberlain (Kieran Thomas 63) subs not used: Brandon Bak

Att: 1015