Match Preview

Isthmian League - South East

Chichester City v Ashford United

Match Preview
By Kenny Sharpe

www.nutsandboltsarchive.co.uk - Chichester City

Ashford United make one of their further away trips of the season on Saturday when they play Chichester City.

The game is actually being played at Bognor Regis Town’s ground whilst I assume Chichester work on the pitch and/or stadium.
The two sides have met each other on 6 occasions, all of which have been in recent seasons. Each of those games have been close and settled by the odd goal when a team has emerged victorious.

Ashford have won once, Chichester on 3 occasions - the remaining 2 games being all level.
Chichester sit one place and one point behind the Nuts and Bolts so the likelihood of another close match is extremely high.

Ashford’s current form is good, 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in the last 6 league outings, Chichester’s recent form is a little off the pace with 1 win, 2 draws and 3 defeats.

The last game between the two sides was in April, at Chichester with the hosts winning 1-0 in front of 179 people.

However, most Ashford fans will remember the game in 2021/22 when the Nuts and Bolts eventually lost 3-2, despite being 2-0 down with about 20 minutes to play and down to 10 men after a petulant red card - up stepped Roberto Ratti scoring two quick goals to level the scores, only for the hosts to nick it in the dying moments. The high and lows of a football supporter encapsulated in 30 minutes of football.

Let’s hope for another cracking game between the two sides!

On this day in 1997, Ashford Town legend Ian Ross made his debut against Dartford in the Kent Senior cup, Rossy went on to play 276 times for the club. A notable result on this day back in 2014 when Ashford beat Hassocks in the FA Vase 7-0.