DESPITE losing their 100 per cent record, Chippenham Town can feel well-satisfied with a point at Histon yesterday.

The Bluebirds were the better side in the opening half in Cambridgeshire, but the last twenty minutes saw them hanging on through a combination of factors.

The main problem was fatigue and heat exhaustion caused by a three-and-a-hal- hour coach journey with no air conditioning, coupled with temperatures hovering around the 30 degree mark at the Glassworld Stadium.

Then, ten minutes from time Lee Phillips, was clattered in a challenge with the home keeper and hobbled through the rest of the match as all three substitutes had been used. In addition, top-scorer Andy Sandell suffered a knee injury in midweek and was unable to feature.

Chippenham had by far the greater chances in the first half. Alex Ferguson shot wide and Greg Tindle headed over a Luke Ballinger corner inside the opening five minutes.

Their best chance of the half came just after the 15-minute mark when a quick throw-in saw Matt Jones drive a cross into the box that Phillips headed straight at Denzel Gerrar in the Histon goal.

Gerrar then just managed to fingertip away Jones's deep free-kick, whilst Phillips flashed an effort across the face of goal.

Before the interval, Gerrar distinguished himself when he fell on Ballinger's low shot, which came at him through a crowd of players at a corner.

For their part, Histon squandered two golden opportunities as Sam Ives looped his shot over the bar with only Kent Kauppinen to beat after the ball had been flicked over the Bluebirds defence. Jordan Nicholson also failed to hit the target with a shot from inside the area.

After the interval, Nicholson's cross was almost turned into his own net by Tindle. Just before the hour, Ashan Holgate won an aerial challenge and the ball fell to substitute Ryan Campbell, whose angled shot was blocked by Gerrar.

Phillips almost took advantage of a poor back-header but Gerrar managed to tidy up.

As the Bluebirds tired, the home side came more into the game but Chippenham defended manfully, with Ballinger heading off the line.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Matt Jones (Jon Beeden 80), Michael Pook, Greg Tindle, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Matt Smith (Conor McCormack 66), Ashan Holgate, Lee Phillips, James Guthrie (Ryan Campbell 52).

Subs not used: Iain Harvey, Scott Bevan.

Referee: Ellis Clark Attendance: 188