CHIPPENHAM TOWN

BY DARREN STOBBS

Leaving Bristol just after 5:30pm, I travelled with fellow Away Travel Organiser, Martin Hudd to The Thornbury Servicing Stadium in Chippenham for Rovers’ first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Arriving at 6:45pm we decided to go straight into the ground and with the bar queue indicating it would be a while before we might get served, we decided to take our position ahead of kick off.

I strolled down to the far corner of the ground to purchase a double cheeseburger at a cost of £8. I must say that it was worth every penny and I can honestly say it was the best one I have had at any away ground (and that is many grounds visited down the years).

I commented on it being ‘proper quality burgers’, thick and not greasy at all – all credit to Chippenham Town’s catering staff.

I also purchased a can of Pepsi Max and, to the amusement of my company, a pierced hole appeared in the side of the can drenching my sock where I stood. I just hoped the local wasps wouldn’t pay a visit!

Kick off was soon upon us and the game started quite lively with Chippenham bossing the midfield early doors. The pitch looked like a sheet of concrete, with all the dry weather experienced recently and white dust flying up on any marked lines.

Rovers then took a grip of the game with attacking threat, notably from Promise Omochere causing a lot of problems in Town’s defence.

Rovers scored the opening goal with a low cross from Omochere appearing to get stuck under Ruel Sotiriou’s feet but, seemingly in slow motion, he bundled the ball over the line from a yard out. The goal was met by amusement from Rovers fans behind the goal and Ruel himself.

Just before half time Chippenham found themselves level after Jed Ward was caught in no mans and the ball ran free from behind him, for an easy equaliser.

The second half became a bit of a non-event with poor misplaced passes from both sides and very little goalmouth action. Rovers, however, found the winning goal from a corner which was headed home from close range by Micah Anthony.

There was a good atmosphere around the ground during the match and some friendly banter between both sets of supporters behind the goal Chippenham were attacking second half. Their fans had moved from the other end at half time – something that I understand used to happen at Eastville quite regularly from where the Rovers were attacking.

A couple of late Chippenham attacks were cancelled out and The Gas started their pre-season with a win.

We got back to Bristol at 10:15pm thinking we had just watched a ‘typical’ early pre-season friendly where the players were simply getting back into the swing of things.

My Man of the Match – Kamil Conteh

Attendance: 1,465