ChippenhamChippenham Townvs.LincolnLincoln City

Meanwhile, the third-tier visitors head into this year's tournament aiming to match or better their sensational run to the quarter-finals in 2016-17.

Match preview

An FA Cup glamour tie will be welcomed by the home faithful at Hardenhuish Park as they push their league woes to one side for the time being, as Chippenham are not the force they were in the National League South only a few months ago.

After earning promotion from the Southern Premier Division in 2016-17 - collecting a record 103 points along the way - Gary Horgan's side got as far as the playoffs in the National League South last year before falling to Ebbsfleet United after extra time.

This time around, the hosts are languishing in 19th in the rankings after taking just 15 points from their opening 14 games, and they suffered their third consecutive defeat last weekend, going 3-1 down to Concord Rangers following previous losses to Tonbridge Angels and Hemel Hempstead town.

Chippenham have made it past Sholing, Metropolitan Police and Hendon - after a replay - to equal their best-ever run in the FA Cup, as they have reached the third round on three previous occasions, most recently losing at this stage to Northampton Town in 2019-20.

Winning just one of their last six matches in all competitions is not exactly a morale-boosting set of results, but Hogan's side have conceded a mere four home goals all season long and can take lessons from Lincoln when it comes to magical FA Cup runs.

It seems like an age ago that brothers Danny Cowley and Nicky Cowley took then-non-league Lincoln City all the way to the last eight of England's most prestigious cup competition, which ultimately ended with a 5-0 loss to the most successful team in the tournament's history, Arsenal.

Mark Kennedy is the man in the dugout these days, and to say that the Imps have been inconsistent at the start of the season would be an understatement, as they sit 13th in the League One rankings with 22 points from their opening 16 matches.

After going on a five-game unbeaten run earlier in October, Lincoln have since dropped points in encounters with Port Vale and Accrington Stanley, losing 1-0 to the former before playing out a 1-1 stalemate with the latter on Tuesday night.

Lincoln have not managed to progress beyond the third round of the FA Cup since that magical run to the quarter-finals - suffering two successive second-round exits in 2020-21 and 2021-22 - and having dabbled in giant killings themselves, the visitors will hope to ensure that they are not on the wrong end of one this time.

Chippenham Town FA Cup form:

Chippenham Town form (all competitions):

Lincoln City form (all competitions):

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Team News

Chippenham Town's ranks have been decimated by illness in recent weeks, but the quartet of Spencer Hamilton, Joe Hanks, Eddie Jones and Joey Parker are all expected to be in contention for the contest.

Jordan Young, Aaron Simpson and Craig Fasanmade are also thought to be optimistic about their chances of playing, leaving Horgan with the best kind of selection dilemma for the weekend's memorable match.

Southampton loanee Will Tizzard has been absent in recent weeks, though, so Hamilton and Will Richards could potentially link arms at the back.

As for Lincoln City, Joe Walsh was able to make his return from a calf injury to start against Accrington in midweek, but Teddy Bishop and Lewis Montsma are down with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Daniel Mandriou's hamstring issue did not let up in time for Tuesday's draw, and he remains a doubt for this contest, but Kennedy will no doubt ponder a few alterations for the first-round contest.

One of those will occur in goal, as Carl Rushworth came off injured in the 38th minute against Accrington, so Jordan Wright should get the nod here.

Chippenham Town possible starting lineup:

Henry; Simpson, Tuodolo, Hamilton, Richards; Bray, Gunner, Russe, Mehew; Greenslade, Parsons

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wright; Walsh, Jackson, O'Connor; Eyoma, Davenport, Sanders, Roughan; Garrick, House, Diamond

We say: Chippenham Town 0-3 Lincoln City

Chippenham Town's defensive nous on their own patch must come into play if they are to do what Lincoln City did to sides above them six years ago, but we do not envisage any shocks occurring here.

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