CHIPPENHAM Town recorded a much-needed and deserved victory against Banbury United yesterday.

The Bluebirds led their Oxfordshire visitors with a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead and the game was wrapped up just past the hour with a third.

Although again it will seem a question of two steps forward and two back for manager Mark Collier as strikers Alan Griffin and Omar Simpson both came on as second half substitutes but four minutes from time, Luke Ballinger went down in an innocuous challenge and immediately waved his arm for treatment, eventually being helped off with a knee injury.

In addition, Jordan Roberts also had to leave the field with a similar problem.

Ballinger had given Chippenham the ideal start when his fourth minute shot was diverted past his own keeper by Banbury centre back Tom Fishwick.

The Bluebirds then created double-figure chances in the opening forty five minutes, the most notable being Alex Ferguson’s header clipping the top of the cross bar and Darren Edwards’ headed effort being ruled out for a marginal offside.

Just how insecure a single goal lead can be was emphasised with Banbury’s only serious effort in the entire match seeing a short corner played to David Lynn and his swerving shot bringing a superb one-handed save from Kent Kauppinen.

The Bluebirds deservedly doubled their lead three minutes before the break when James Guthrie’s cross to the far post saw Ferguson take one touch before firing a low left-footed shot past former Swindon Town goalie Leigh Bedwell.

Chippenham continued to dominate after the break without creating as many chances, although they wrapped the game up just past the hour mark when a well-crafted move ended with Guthrie stretching to reach a lofted pass and guiding a shot with the outside of his boot past Bedwell.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Conor McCormack, Jon Beeden, Michael Pook, Geg Tindle, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Jordan Roberts (Omar Simpson 82), Darren Edwards (Alan Griffin 73), Luke Ballinger (George Pawley 86), James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Iain Harvey, Toby Osman.

Attendance: 310

MORE FOOTBALL NEWS AND REACTION IN THIS THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport