Stadium: Hardenhuish Park (Capacity: 3,000)
Table Position: 21st
Top Scorer: Alex Bray (5)
Manager: Gary Horgan
Nickname: The Bluebirds
2022/23 average attendance: 596
This Saturday Concord Rangers travel to Wiltshire to take on Chippenham Town in what is a vital game at the bottom of the Vanarama National League South.
In midweek the Beach Boys booked their place in the final of the BBC Essex Senior Cup following a penalty shootout win over Hornchurch.
Rob Small's men will be looking to carry this high into their performance on Saturday against a Chippenham side that are three points and three places above Rangers in the table.
The Bluebirds were also in action in midweek with Gary Horgan's outfit claiming a respectable point at home to Worthing in what was Chippenham's fifth straight draw - the last three of which have all finished 1-1.
Concord have picked up just one win in ten but Chippenham's home form of late has been even worse. The Bluebirds are winless in eight league games at Hardenhuish Park with their last win on home turf in the National League South coming back in September. However Chippenham did claim a historic home win in November when the Bluebirds stunned League One side Lincoln City 1-0 in the FA Cup.
A potential reason for their recent lack of wins could be down to the departure of striker Jordan Young to Yeovil Town last month. The Scotsman scored nine goals for the Bluebirds before departing, and his replacement Matt McClure has failed to hit the ground running so far with just one goal in seven appearances since arriving from Gloucester City.
The two sides last met in October, just a week before Chippenham's cup triumph against Lincoln, in what was Small's first home game as Concord manager. An Alex Bray equaliser wasn't enough for Chippeham on that day as goals from Harvey Beckett, Saleem Akanbi and Ryan Blackman sealed a 3-1 win for the Beach Boys.
Despite this result for Concord the head to head record lies firmly in the hosts' favour with Chippenham losing just one of their past eight meetings with Concord. Furthermore the Bluebirds are four games unbeaten at home to the Beach Boys.
A win for Chippenham could see Town move out of the relegation zone provided that Cheshunt, Dulwich Hamlet and Hampton & Richmond Borough all lose. On the other hand three points for Concord would see Small's side move off the foot of the table and up to 22nd provided that Hungerford Town and Weymouth both fail to win - so it really is all to play for.
Key Player
Alex Bray
Welsh winger Alex Bray has been a consistent performer for the Bluebirds this campaign and the 27 year old comes into this game on the back of some solid form.
Bray has netted two goals in as many games with the winger scoring against Welling United last Saturday before scoring an equaliser against Worthing in midweek.
Bray will be a name familiar to Concord fans as the former Rotherham United man scored at the Aspect Arena for Chippenham when the two sides met back in October.
Bray has picked up EFL appearances previously in his career when playing for Plymouth Argyle and Forest Green Rovers.
Bray has also represented Wales at under 19 level.
Form
Chippenham Town
D - 4-4 vs Cheshunt (A)
D - 1-1 vs Hemel Hempstead Town (A)
D - 1-1 vs Welling United (H)
D - 1-1 vs Worthing (H)
Concord Rangers
D - 2-2 vs Tonbridge Angels (A)
D - 0-0 vs Canvey Island (A) - W 3-2 on pens - BBC Essex Senior Cup
L - 0-5 vs Weymouth (H)
D - 1-1 vs Hornchurch (H) - W 5-4 on pens - BBC Essex Senior Cup
Head-to-head
29/10/2022: Concord Rangers 3-1 Chippenham Town
05/02/2022: Chippenham Town 1-0 Concord Rangers
25/09/2021: Concord Rangers 0-1 Chippenham Town
28/11/2020: Chippenham Town 1-1 Concord Rangers
25/02/2020: Chippenham Town 3-0 Concord Rangers
By Nathan Williams
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