Southern League Premier Division

Tuesday April 3

Chippenham Town moved into the play-off places with a routine win at Mangotsfield tonight.

Goals from Alan Griffin and Sam Allison early in each half put the cap on a disciplined performance.

Manager Adie Mings was without the in-form Sean Seavill up front after he failed to recover from a hip injury sustained in Saturday's win over Corby. Goalscorer Griffin took his place.

There was also a return for skipper Iain Harvey after serving a two-match suspension. Charlie Knight made way for him.

Chippenham could not have had a better start when, after six minutes Ian Herring's long throw from the right was flicked on by right back Ross Adams and appeared to strike Mangotsfield defender Alex Ball's arm.

But before the referee could blow for a penalty Griffin seized on the loose ball and rifled it home from six yards.

Griffin had a chance to double his and the Bluebirds' tally on 20 minutes when he latched on to Dave Gilroy's pass. But his shot dropped on to the roof of the goal.

Kye Holly's 25-yard free kick gave Mangotsfield an anxious moment on 25 minutes but keeper Steve Book managed to hang on to it.

The home side's first meaningful attempt at goal didn't arrive until seven minutes before the break when Dave Morrissey met Chris Lane's cross with a header that Chris Snoddy saved comfortably.

Shortly after Lane was booked for a late challenge on Herring.

Mings' team talk at half-time would have been to protect the precious lead but he must have been delighted to see his men double it just three minutes after the restart.

Herring picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and measured an inch-perfect pass into space for Allison to run on to down the right.

The winger took the ball in his stride and drilled the ball beyond the keeper into the far corner.

The goal spured the home side, playing with a stiff breeze behind them, to greater efforts and for the first time in the match Chippenham came under sustained pressure.

But thanks to some resiliant defending Mangotsfield were restricted to few chances.

Lane had a shot from 25 yards saved by Snoddy on 61 minutes and, seven minutes later, Alex Stanley was on hand to head substitute Ian Jacobs' hooked shot from eight yards from off the line.

The team were roared off the pitch by around 70 travelling fans.

The win puts Chippenham above Hemel Hempstead into fifth place, although they may only be for 48 hours because Hemel, who have two games in hand over Chippenham, play struggling Tiverton at home on Thursday night.

The next episode in Chippenham's promotion saga is at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday against Yate. After that, on Easter Monday, comes the biggest game of the season so far, away at league leaders Bath City.