CHIPPENHAM Town chief Mark Collier says that weathering the storm will be the name of the game for his charges as they continue to navigate their bloated fixture list.

The Bluebirds were involved in an energy-sapping draw with Slough Town on Tuesday night – their eighth game in three-and-a-half weeks – and Collier admits that his players are feeling the pinch.

Conor McCormack, Alex Ferguson and Ashan Holgate are all set for spells on the sidelines with hamstring injuries whilst Scott Bevan (ankle) and Michael Pook (groin) remain doubts for this Saturday’s trip to Dorchester Town in the FA Trophy.

Chippenham look set to continue to tackle regular midweek fixtures until mid-November and Collier admits his team have no choice but to soldier on.

“We’ve played a lot of games in a short period of time and I wouldn’t say that the players are tired but maybe a little bit jaded,” said the Hardenhuish Park boss.

“We’ve got a few walking wounded at the moment and had to change things around on Tuesday.

“We’d love for things to settle down so that we knew we were just playing on Saturdays but that’s not going to happen for a while, so we’ve just got to keep going.”

The Bluebirds thrice had their wings clipped by Slough.

Midfielder Chris Allen’s first goal for the club was cancelled out by Charlie Strutton’s strike before Oli Taylor pounced in the second half, only to see the Rebels’ notch again as Adrian Sear’s shot deflected in off Scott Harris.

Andy Sandell capitalised on an error from former Chippenham loanee Mark Scott to make it 3-2 but Strutton curled in his second of the evening to ensure the spoils were shared.

Collier said: “It was a great game for the neutral but not so good for us on the touchline.

“We said to the players that we can’t concede three goals at home – scoring three goals ourselves should be enough to win the game.

“But Slough have shot up the table and I think they were second in the form table before the game. When we got up to the bar on Tuesday and saw the other scores in our league; maybe a draw isn’t such a bad result.

“We’re still hanging in there in the play-off positions, which is where we and to be, and we must keep going.”

  •  TICKETS are still available for Chippenham Town’s ‘An Evening with John Hartson’, where the former Celtic and Wales striker will be speaking at Chippenham’s Neeld Hall on Thursday, November 5.

Tickets, which include a three-course meal, begin at £50 per person. Contact Bluebirds commercial manager Andy Sandell on 07824879619 for more information.