Billericay travel to the West Country on Saturday August 25th to take on Chippenham Town. A solid performance secured a home win over Weston-super-Mare last time out keeping the Blues at the summit of the League. With ample preparation time for the next game available, a victory against the Wiltshire side offers the chance to maintain the fine early run before the visit of St.Albans City on Bank Holiday Monday.
Chippenham Town are in mixed form with two victories and three losses so far this campaign leaving them in 15th position. Their last match away at Eastbourne Borough saw the home side triumph 2-1 in a tightly contested affair. Bluebirds’ home form has yielded a 1-0 win versus newly promoted Slough Town and a 1-4 defeat to Welling United.
Chippenham secured a creditable 13th place finish in their first season in the National South in 2017-18. Having initially struggled, an impressive late burst of wins secured a mid-table debut. This time around there has been talk of a top 10 finish and even play-off hopes if a good start is made.
Under manager, Mark Collier, Chippenham were promoted to Step two football after a record 103 points during 2016-17. Appointed in November 2013, after a 9-0 home defeat, it was a case of third time lucky for Chippenham Town. With the club fourth from bottom in the Southern League Premier, Collier proved to be the last of a trio of managers used in the campaign. The former Swindon Submarine boss steadied the ship to finish 15th and has been in situ ever since.
Recruitment at Hardenhuish for 2018-19 has been steady with 11 players retained or given new contracts. These include central defensive options in skipper, Greg Tindle, and ex-Redditch Utd centre-back, Will Richards, named Player of the Season in the 2016-17 title campaign. Another key signing is left-sided defender, Curtis McDonald, who joined in December 2017. Comfortable in the middle of the back four, the ex-Merthyr Town player has also featured at left back this season.
The West Country’s side’s midfield has a familiar feel with Dean Evans, Matt Smith, James Guthrie, and Alexander Ferguson all agreeing new deals. Ferguson, who came into the team for Welling, and has stayed in on the left side of midfield, is a busy player and prepared to shoot on sight. We also highlight ex-Fulham U-23 skipper, Josh Smile, signed in October 2017 as an influence on the right side. Still only 21 years old, and of similar stature to our own Sammy Deering, he can pass well and, as we saw in the match away at Truro, is capable of delivering a pinpoint cross.
Joining the squad are eight new entrants, including the arrival of replacement goal-keeper, Will Henry, on loan from Swindon Town. Henry is an unexpected arrival joining after incoming keeper, Will Puddy, sustained a long-term injury in only his second League appearance for the club. Last year’s man between the sticks, Jared Thompson, was re-called by his parent club, Chelsea F.C.
Local rivals, Bath City, provide three new faces in winger, Jack Compton, Antigua & Barbuda international striker, Nathaniel Jarvis, and right-back, George Rigg. We note that Compton won the “Golden Boot” last season in Romans colours with 12 goals and looks a clever acquisition. He has missed the last three matches with an injury so may not feature.
Jarvis, at 6ft 3ins, is very physical, and an aerial threat, with a good turn of pace. He has scored heavily at this level with Hungerford over 2015-17 and offered a reminder of his potential with a classic diving header finish away at Truro. Ex-Bristol City junior, Rigg replaces the departing Daniel Bowman.
Chippenham’s best known new signing, midfielder Yan Klukowski, has not yet featured due to injury. Having started his career in the club youth set-up, the 31 year old returns to Hardenhuish for the third time. Having represented Forest Green Rovers, Newport County, and latterly Torquay United, the midfielder has vital League pedigree to add distinction to the centre of the park. Fortunately for Billericay, we don’t expect Klukowski to have recovered in time to be available for Saturday’s game.
Somebody we think is highly likely to feature is striker, Karnell Chambers. Although not a new signing, arriving in March 2018, he has now committed to the current campaign. Joining from National South neighbours, Gloucester City, where he netted 7 goals in 28 appearances,, this exciting young 20 year old has started the season strongly. With three goals in four starts, Chambers can finish well and, after missing the Truro match, looks like one to watch. From the bench, veteran striker, Andy Sandell, 34, also offers both a goal threat and a prodigious long throw.
Billericay Town find themselves in the rare position of having a full week to prepare for the visit to Chippenham after the 4-2 home win against Weston-super-Mare. With Callum Kennedy still unavailable through injury, we expect Jake Howells to continue as left-back. Doe and Inman have impressed as a centre-back pairing and are likely to remain in place despite the challenge from Gerring – now available for selection after suspension.
Midfield changes could be undertaken to accommodate width in the team through either or both Alfie Potter and, if fit for selection, Ricky Modeste. Up front, Jake Robinson looks a certain starter. The main decision on attacking options is whether to reward Moses Emmanuel with a start for his goals as substitute at expense of Coombes.
On what has been described by visitors this season to Hardenhuish as a dry pitch, and difficult to play on, the challenge will be for the Blues to maintain passing fluency in difficult circumstances. Chippenham have tended to play 4-3-3 this season, with a lively forward line posing problems.
With the Bluebirds conceding 11 goals in five games, there may, however, be defensive areas of weakness. It is noteworthy that Welling’s direct, physical approach did appear effective in their recent match and that the Bluebirds appear to lack physicality in central areas of the pitch.
To all those travelling to the game, have a safe trip. Please note that the Billericay Town Supporters Society is looking to run a coach trip to the match subject to demand. Please check their twitter site on @btss1880 for latest details on travel or e-mail interest to btsuppsociety@yahoo.com
Form Last Five Matches
Billericay Town: W, W, W, D, W.
Leading Scorer: Jake Robinson, 8 goals.
Chippenham Town: L, W, L, W, L.
Leading Scorer: Karnell Chambers, 3 goals.
Last Line-Ups
Billericay Town ( Home Win 4-2 v Weston-super-Mare)
1. Louis Wells; 2 Joe Kizzi; 3. Jake Howells; 4. Scott Doe; 5. Dean Inman; 6. Sam Deering (12. Alfie Potter, ’74); 7. Jamie O’Hara; 8. Simon Walton (14. Adam Cunnington, ’66); 9. Jake Robinson; 10. Adam Coombes (17. Moses Emmanuel, ’62); 11. Danny Waldren. Subs Not Used: 15.. Ben Gerring; 16. Rickie Hayles.
Chippenham Town (Away defeat 2-1 v Eastbourne Borough)
1. Will Henry; 2. George Rigg (14. Kieran Parcelle, ’50); 5. Greg Tindle; 6. Will Richards; 7. Alexander Ferguson (11. James Guthrie, ’68); 8 Matt Smith; 9. Nathaniel Jarvis; 15. Dean Evans; 16. Curtis McDonald; 17. Karnell Chambers; 19. Josh Smile (20. Andy Sandell, ’55). Subs Not Used: 4. Michael Jones; 18. Nick McCootie
