blackandamber1 wrote:

Come on if you can’t get excited about this one..

From the evidence I’ve seen from the match against the Gas this is going to be a competitive game. I’d like to see something resembling a proper game and not a different team after 60 minutes.

I think for STFC to bring their team to Chippenham with two weeks to go to the start of the regular season is a massive compliment by Ian Holloway.

I’ve got the feeling the attendance could be a season best. Massively more exciting than Bath City.

I d like to think Bluebirds will be in the game until 70 mins, but this is a massive ask against a team who will be in the mix in League 2.

Chippenham 1 Swindon 5 (Henry MOTM)

Reading your post I was expecting a 2-1 Swindon!!  Spot with the score and MOTM though so well done!!  Probably got the flow of goals around the wrong way though!

Swindon were ruthless today, showed the difference in levels with their final ball and finishing. However for large spells I felt we looked better than them in our general play but I thought our forwards were rubbish today with their final pass, shot or final decision - We cut through them so many times and squandered it.   We have huge potential with this squad that’s been assembled so far and there is lots to be optimistic about. The next 3 games will be the real test of what we’re about now the full timers are out of the way.

I thought Henry, Colwell, Vaughan, Poffley (third goal aside) all did well. Fleet looked slow and off the pace. Others did ok in places. Pitch is going to be a real problem as things stand, needs some money spent on it as looks unloved.

As was to be expected - evident throughout that Swindon were on another level technically, physically and with speed of thought. Also interesting how they exposed the Chippenham  playing out from the back stuff from the off. Very professional display from Swindon and fair play to them for putting out a strong side.

Agree with Insideleft about the young lads at the back. Will be a big gamble to rely on them in my opinion. Thought Colwell in particular had a difficult afternoon defensively. Up front and going forward as a team - not convinced. A few chances have been taken on a few of the new guys who are stepping up a couple of levels. Impossible to judge during pre season so we will have to wait and see how they do in a unforgiving, relentless league.

Every year we seem to worry about young players and it seems like every year we sell them on. While we would all like a team of seasoned men all aged 28 years old, our reality is that we won’t be that. Both Jac and Lewis did well when required last season and will no doubt keep improving.  Interesting to see young Harry Messenger has also been involved in a lot of the games. The next one?