Chippenham Town secured a creditable point in a 1-1 home draw with league leaders Farnborough, although midfielder James Martin felt but for two incidents at the end of each half they could have won the game.

The Bluebirds took the lead in the second minute on Saturday and defended resolutely until just before the break, when defender Leigh Rumbold was given space to head in a corner.

Neither side attacked with enough intent in the second half to look like winning until substitute Sean Seavill had a shot saved five minutes from time, with David Pratt’s rebound also blocked, before Scott Lye smashed a third effort into the woodwork.

“That was massive for us,” said Martin.

“Had that gone in then I don’t think we were going to concede again, even though we were under pressure at that stage.”

Skipper Ross Adams gave his side an unlikely lead in just the second minute when he headed in a Kye Holly free-kick to bury the ghost of Tuesday’s night lacklustre home defeat to Oxford City.

Martin felt the result would have been different had they held onto the lead until the break but believes their team ethic helped to overcome their visitors’ expensively-assembled playing squad.

“It’s all well and good having individuals but you’ve go to play as a team,” said Martin.

“I thought Farnborough did that but we knew, as a team and a unit, that we could out-battle them in that respect.

“The way we defended was superb, everyone battled for every ball.

“The back four and Snodds held their line and eveything was fantastic.

“I don’t see why it would have been any different had we been able to hold out until half-time.”

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Lamb, Williams, Casey, Adams, Gullick, Lye, Martin, Holly (Seavill 80), Pratt, Allison. Subs not used: Halliday, Sercombe, Swallow, Gardner.