CHIPPENHAM Town recorded a thoroughly deserved three points in a closely-fought game at Hardenhuish Park - Stratford’s first league defeat on the road this season.

The opening half was a very tight affair as Stratford defended in great depth. Alex Ferguson’s first-minute shot went high and five minutes later Matt Smith’s speculative effort suffered a similar fate.

At the other end, Barry Fitzharris shot across the face of goal and Jamie Sheldon was off target with his effort.

The Bluebirds' best chance of the half came on 20 minutes when Dave Pratt’s angled shot went across the face of goal.

Three minutes later Kieren Westwood failed to get clean contact on his shot and Darren Chitty easily gathered, and the home keeper also safely held a deflected shot from Edwin Ahenkorah.

Four minutes before the break Mark Preece headed wide from a Smith free kick.

On 49 minutes Greg Tindle’s free kick was headed back across goal by Preece and Pratt’s bicycle kick lacked the power to beat Niall Cooper.

Ferguson then found Andy Sandell, who before the match had been presented with a golden boot for being the top goalscorer in last season’s Premier Division, but his thumping shot was just off target.

A rare Stratford corner saw Simeon Tulloch fire way over, whilst at the other end Cooper held Will Richards’s headed effort.

Richards was not to be denied however on 64 minutes as he fired home his first goal at Hardenhuish Park.

Stratford failed to deal with Sandell’s long throw and Ferguson’s shot rebounded off a post to the former Redditch player to shoot home.

Six minutes later Pratt crashed an effort against the underside of the crossbar and Ferguson’s shot on seventy three minutes went straight at Cooper.

Chippenham made the game safe five minutes from time as Pratt raced across the edge of the area outpacing three covering defenders before firing an angled shot across Cooper.

It was timely that the second goal did come as in the 90th minute Stratford substitute Richard Gregory reduced the deficit with a shot from 30 yards.

Chippenham: Chitty, Preece, Felix, Horgan, Tindle, Richards, Ferguson (Campbell 83), Smith, Pratt (Griffin 89), Sandell, Guthrie.

Subs not used: Pook, Allen.

Referee: Ryan Hillier-Smith (Southampton).

Attendance: 400