CHIPPENHAM Town were forced to settle for a point last night as they struggled to make their dominance against Biggleswade Town count.

The Bluebirds were made to rue their profligacy as their Bedfordshire visitors cancelled out Luke Ballinger's opener and drew level immediately after the break.

The Hardenhuish pitch passed a 2pm inspection and by kick off, the morning covering of snow had thawed.

Chippenham keeper Kent Kauppinen blocked Craig Daniels' early shot with his feet before the hosts replied with James Guthrie twice finding Ballinger, but he first volleyed into the side netting and then failed to hit the target.

But Ballinger then made amends on eighteen minutes with a superb individual goal.

The midfielder picked the ball up inside his own half before a mazy run saw off three defenders, with his final shot bouncing over the diving Ian Brown.

Chippenham had chances to increase their lead before the break as Michael Pook fired wide and then saw another shot deflected for a corner. Bryan Smith was also off target and Matt Coupe headed wide from a Guthrie corner.

In the opening period, the Waders' Kelvin Bossman saw one shot blocked by Coupe and another fly over the bar.

Biggleswade levelled things up in the first minute of the second half when the Bluebirds defence failed to deal with a long free-kick and Gavin Hoyte turned the ball in.

Both sides had chances to win the game; Chippenham’s Ashan Holgate heading a Guthrie corner onto the top of the net whilst Kauppinen kept Chippenham in the game with a superb save from a Josh Beech header.

Holgate then blazed over from close range, whilst at the other end, Kauppinen saved from Daniels.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Bryan Smith, Jon Beeden, Matt Coupe, Greg Tindle, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Michael Pook, Ashan Holgate, Luke Ballinger, James Guthrie (Jack Odam 65).

Subs not used: Toby Osman, Mark Francis, Lee Phillips, Iain Harvey.

Attendance: 164

Referee: Christopher Kidd – Bicester