CHIPPENHAM Town have seen their odds to lift the Southern Premier title slashed after completing a 3-1 win away to title favourites Poole Town on Tuesday night.

The new campaign may only be four games old but the Bluebirds’ flying start has seen bookmakers make them joint second-favourites with odds as short as 6/1 to finish top of the pile.

Chippenham remain the only side with a 100 per cent record, courtesy of two spot kicks from Andy Sandell and a strike from Matt Smith, condemned Poole, who finished the game with 10 men to their first loss.

Despite the early scalp, Town boss Mark Collier is keen not to get too carried away with their fine start.

“I don’t want to play it down because it is a fantastic result on the back of a very good performance,” he said.

“Someone said to me on the way back that we were 25/1 with the bookies at the start of the season to win the league and now we are down to 6/1.

“We’re playing well at the moment and we have good togetherness in the squad.

“To go away to one of the title favourites, who are very good on their home pitch, and win is certainly a feather in our cap and one we should be proud to wear.”

Sandell, who has now scored seven in four, earned himself a penalty when he was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by Jaime Gleeson.

The 31-year-old took the spot-kick duties himself to hand Chippenham the lead going into the break.

The visitors extended their lead from the penalty spot again in the second half when Ashan Holgate was brought down by Poole stopper Nick Hutchings, and Sandell made no mistake.

Poole made it a tense finish when they pulled a goal back with 13 minutes left.

Richard Gillespie made the dart into the box and was brought to the ground by Mark Preece to leave referee Christopher Wade with no choice but to award the third penalty of the game, which was converted by Steve Devlin.

Chippenham responded well and with 10 minutes remaining substitute Lee Phillips was fouled by Michael Walker, who was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Matt Smith then wrapped up the points in the 91st minute when he finished off a fine Town counter attack with a well-placed strike.

Collier was delighted with what he saw as a complete performance from his charges.

“We were very pleased that we could get our foot on the ball and pass it and be comfortable in possession,” he added.

“We knew we would have to defend, but all round it has given us food for thought that we can push on.”