HOPING his sending off didn’t curtail his team’s chances of sealing all three points was a new experience for Lee Phillips.

Phillips, who netted a first-half equaliser against Truro City last weekend, was given his marching orders midway through the second period for an alleged headbutt on the home side’s Paul Kendall.

The Bluebirds man insists his off-the-ball clash was accidental but was relieved to see his teammates get over the line, despite Bryan Smith also suffering a controversial dismissal late on.

“It was my first-ever red card. Their guy raked his studs down my calf off the ball and as I turned, I didn’t realise just how close he was to me,” said Phillips.

“My head caught the side of his face and the referee has seen it, and sent me off. To be fair to their guy, he only made a noise to say ‘what was that?’ rather than going down but it was totally accidental.

“I’m not that sort of player and neither is Bryan, but the important thing is that it didn’t cost us.

“They scored against the run of play but we came back and got a very good win. I’m going to miss the last three games of the season but I’ve got to look beyond that.”

Truro went ahead with 25 minutes gone, home skipper Kendall volleying home from Shane White’s delivery.

But it took just two minutes for Mark Collier’s men to get back on level terms as Alan Griffin’s ball from the right flank was turned in at the near post by Phillips.

The Bluebirds seized control within the first 11 minutes of the second period, winger Corey King slotting home after James Guthrie’s pass before Griffin headed home from Harley Purnell’s free-kick.

On the hour mark, Phillips saw red before Kent Kauppinen saved well to deny Dan Green at point-blank range.

But Chippenham sailed home with relative ease, until midfielder Smith was also shown a straight red for an alleged elbow in injury time, with manager Collier confirmed the Bluebirds would be appealing his sending off.

“Bryan Smith was sent off for an apparent flailing arm but that’s not in Bryan Smith’s locker – unfortunately, it happened right in front of the dugout and you get people from the bench jumping up to appeal,’’ said Collier.

“But he was just getting his body in front of the player, as he should do, and we’ll be appealing that sending off.”

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