MARK Francis marked his Chippenham Town debut with a goal against his former club as the Bluebirds progressed into the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy with victory over near neighbours Frome Town this afternoon.

Francis’ second half strike was preceded by two efforts from strike partner Darren Edwards, with the Robins’ disciplinary issues coming to the fore once again as both Jon Vance and Josh Klein-Davies were sent off.

Frontman Francis had two early chances to get his Chippenham career off to a flying start, having an early shot charged down and smacking a snapshot not far over the crossbar.

Moments after the Bluebirds had a penalty shout turned down, Aaron Rodriguez rounded Kent Kauppinen and shot towards goal but Greg Tindle was on hand to clear the danger.

Frome’s Klein-Davies shot wide after being set-up by Dylan Bonella before the home side took the lead just before the 20-minute mark.

A Chippenham counter-attack saw Francis play the ball into the feet of Luke Ballinger from the left of the penalty area and the midfielder took his time before hitting an effort on to the inside of the near post.

But the rebound fell kindly for Edwards, who squeezed a shot home despite the best efforts of keeper Darren Chitty.

With just over ten minutes of the half remaining, the Bluebirds striker doubled his tally and his side’s lead as he got on the end of Ballinger’s whipped free-kick from the left flank, with Edwards able to keep his feet grounded as he diverted the ball into the net.

Kris Miller attempted to get the Robins back into the game with a strike from distance that flew wide before the full-back struck the outside of the Chippenham post with a powerful effort from the edge of the area after his initial shot was blocked.

Up the other end, Francis weaved his way past an opponent before hitting a cross into Edwards at the near post but his strike partner couldn’t turn the ball goalwards under pressure from Rhys Baggridge.

But Frome did reduce the deficit on the stroke of half-time as Ollie Taylor reacted quickest to Jon Vance’s low corner, with the striker crashing home into the top corner.

Just three minutes into the second period, the Bluebirds hit straight back as Edwards fed Francis and the Chippenham new-boy finished with aplomb to get one over on his old club.

Matt Smith stung the palms of Kauppinen whilst Edwards was picked out by Ballinger but couldn’t get his shot away.

With 25 minutes of the half gone, the Robins were handed a mountain to climb as they swiftly found themselves reduced to nine men.

First, midfielder Vance, who had previously been involved in a clash with Ballinger as the two sides walked to the dressing, was shown a straight red for kicking the Chippenham man after the two players’ legs got tangled following a challenge.

The sending off sparked an angry confrontation, with Greg Tindle and Miller at the forefront, and once the melee died down, Klein-Davies was given his marching orders by referee Adam Matthews for his part in the flare-up.

When the action finally got back underway, Francis went for the top corner with a curling strike whilst Smith fired over from inside the box.

Cameron Brown showed some neat footwork to drive into the box before testing Kauppinen with a left-footed shot whilst Ballinger’s strike from outside the area was beaten away by Chitty as the home side progressed.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Conor McCormack, Jon Beeden, Iain Harvey, Greg Tindle (C), Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson (Ryan Campbell 50), Mark Francis (George Pawley 86), Darren Edwards (Omar Simpson 86), Luke Ballinger, James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Toby Osman, Matt Coupe.

FROME TOWN: Darren Chitty (C), Kris Miller, Rhys Baggridge, Steve Walker, Dylan Bonella (Jack Twyford 80), Jon Vance, Ricky Hulbert, Matt Smith, Josh Klein-Davies, Cameron Brown, Aaron Rodriguez (Ollie Taylor 39).

Subs not used: Lamar Powell, Jack Vallis.

Attendance: 227