CHIPPENHAM Town were unable to make a dent in Hemel Hempstead Town's Calor League Premier Division title charge as they were beaten in Hertfordshire tonight.

Mark Collier's side went down 2-0 at Vauxhall Road as Hemel's top-scorer Ben Mackey netted twice to comdemn the Bluebirds to defeat.

The home side's Jordan Parkes and Lewis Toomey struck the woodwork within the opening 45 minutes, and when Parkes was brought down in the area, Mackey saw his spot-kick smack the inside of the post as the two sides went into the break at 0-0.

The title-chasing hosts were denied by the woodwork again early in the second period, with Luke Allen's long-range effort hitting the post, but Chippenham's resistance was finally broken when striker Mackey volleyed home from David King's delivery.

Hemel's second penalty of the evening wrapped up the result when, after Toomey was bundled over, Mackey made up for his earlier miss by firing home down the middle of the goal to make it 2-0.

Defeat sees Collier's men remain 20th in the league table, eight points ahead of AFC Totton, who drew 1-1 at Biggleswade Town tonight, with a game in hand.

The Bluebirds make the lengthy trip to Cornwall to take on 17th-placed Truro City next weekend.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Harley Purnell, Pete Monks (Tyron Leigh 80), Bryan Smith, Jon Beeden, Greg Tindle, Corey King, Jake Simpson (Joe McClennan 55), Alan Griffin (c), Jake Harris (Aaron Oakley 80), James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Ben John, Lee Phillips. 

Attendance: 498

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