Next Match – Chippenham Town – Away

City will be looking for their first win of the festive period on New Year’s Day when they make the short journey along the A4 for the return fixture with Chippenham Town. Defeat to their local rivals on Boxing Day was followed by an improved performance against Worthing but a last minute equaliser from the visitors turned three points into one.

The Bluebirds were also in action on Thursday, returning from Braintree with a 1-1 draw, their goal coming from Jordan Young whose individual effort had settled the match at Twerton. Those four points from the two matches has eased the pressure slightly, although they remain in 22nd position.

It hasn’t helped that the Wiltshire club have only played eight matches at home with a return of four wins, one draw and three defeats. Three of those victories came in consecutive games in September, with Dartford, Oxford and Dulwich all returning home pointless. However these were followed by three defeats and the third of those, against Havant, was the last league fixture at Hardenhuish, as long ago as 15th November!

Whilst these local derbies between ourselves and Chippenham have been blessed with plenty of goals in recent years, there could well be a break with tradition on Sunday as there have been only 13 league goals scored in total by The Bluebirds and their opponents in those eight fixtures.

City’s record at this ground must surpass those of any other ground which we play at this season and in our ten visits in the League since the first in 2002, we have picked up six wins and three draws.

Our last visit was on Boxing Day 2021 when a crowd of 1600 saw City triumph 4-1 with goals from Cody Cooke, Omar Holness and Jordan Dyer.

This fixture usually attracts our largest away following of the season. While the majority will probably make the thirteen mile journey by car, the Supporters Club will be running a coach and details can be found here. And there is the third option of the short train journey from Bath Spa with the ground just under a mile from Chippenham station.