Farnborough FC V Chelmsford City FC, National League South, Saunders Transport Community Stadium, Tuesday 27th February 2024, 7:45pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City will be on the hunt for their fifth consecutive National League South win when they face Farnborough on Tuesday evening, but Robbie Simpson’s side will have to inflict a first defeat of the month on Farnborough if they are to come away from Tuesday evening’s rearranged clash with maximum points.
Both sides were due to play this fixture last month, however a frozen pitch meant the scheduled January 20th fixture in Hampshire suffered from a postponement on the day of the game.
After beating league-leaders Yeovil Town last time out to keep up their recent impressive form, the Clarets sit 2nd in the league table and will feel high on confidence as they prepare to face Farnborough once again.
Spencer Day’s men are currently enjoying a good run of form themselves and have recently climbed up to 14th in the league standings following a four-game unbeaten run.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of Tuesday’s clash…
Team & match stats:
· Farnborough possess the 6th strongest home record in the National League South this season, having collected 32 points at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium. 73% of the points Spencer Day’s side have won in 23-24 have been earned from their home games (32 out of 44 points).
· Both sides head into Tuesday’s game unbeaten in their last four league matches.
· Chelmsford City are on a six-game winning streak against Boro.
· Farnborough recorded their last victory against the Clarets back in October 2013.
Opposition:
After being relegated from the National League South in 2015, Farnborough returned to the second tier of Non-League football in 2022 after a seven-year absence from the division. Boro marked their first season back in the National League South by finishing 12th in the table. At present, hopes in Hampshire of a higher league finish this time around are still very much alive, following an impressive February.
Tuesday’s hosts enjoyed a respectable start to the season and put together a seven-game unbeaten run in the National League South which spanned from 9th September to 7th November. However, Spencer Day’s side failed to build on the strong early season foundations which they laid, winning just 3 of the 14 league games they played across November, December, and January.
Long-serving manager Day subsequently rang the changes at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium last month as he looked to reignite his side’s season, adding the likes of Harvey Bradbury, Millar Matthews-Lewis, Ben Mason, and Hisham Kasimu to his squad. In an off-the-pitch addition, former Slough manager Neil Baker also joined the club’s First Team Management Group.
Day will argue that his January alterations are now paying off, with his side unbeaten in the four league games they have played during February (W2, D2). Key to the Yellows’ recent strong form have been forward Hady Ghandour and former Claret Ricky Holmes. Lebanese international Ghandour joined Farnborough in December in a loan move from Aldershot, and has impressed during his stint so far at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium. Ghandour has scored 5 goals from 7 starts for the Yellows, and has shown recently that he has an eye for a late goal, with his last two strikes respectively coming in the 90th and 92nd minute of Farnborough’s games against Truro and Hampton & Richmond.
Holmes’ name will be familiar with all City fans after the winger’s stint playing in Essex between 2005 to 2010, during which he was named as the club’s Player of the Season during our promotion-winning 2007-08 campaign. Despite now being 36 years old, Holmes has shown as of late that he’s still got it, with his performance in Farnborugh’s recent 3-2 win over Truro earning him a spot in the National League South Team of the Week.
Team News:
Cameron James returned to the match day squad at the weekend and was an unused substitute during our 1-0 victory over Yeovil Town.
Luke Jenkins was not included in the matchday squad but could be spotted warming up alongside his teammates ahead of Saturday’s match.
Getting there:
Supporters travelling by car to this weekend’s game should know that the journey from Melbourne Community Stadium to the Saunders Community Transport Stadium takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes. Parking is available on a first come first served basis in the Stadium Car Park, charged at £2 per vehicle.
There are still spaces available on the Chelmsford City Supporters Club coach travelling to Farnborough. The coach departs Melbourne Park 4pm on Tuesday, and will then depart the County Hotel at 4:15pm.
Ticketing information:
Turnstiles will open at 6pm on Tuesday. Match tickets can be purchased in advance via Farnborugh’s official website up until when turnstiles open at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium. Supporters who intend to pay at the turnstiles should know that cash or card payments are accepted.
Ticket prices for Tuesday’s game are as follows:
· Adults: £15
· Concession (Over 65/Armed Forces/Students): £10
· Junior (14-17 years): £5
· Under 14 (must be accompanied by an adult): Free
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of proceedings in Hampshire by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
Words by Jake Dixon.
by