UNCOMPROMISING wind and rain did little to dampen Chippenham Town’s new year cheer as they romped to victory at near neighbours Cirencester Town this afternoon.

Family bragging rights also went to Bluebirds frontman Alan Griffin, who found himself pitted against older brother Charlie, coming out on top as he found the net for Mark Collier’s men.

As the two teams got to grips with the sodden surface, Chippenham’s Alan Griffin was first to threaten, with home keeper Glyn Garner halting his low shot from James Guthrie’s pass.

Then, with just seven minutes on the clock, Andy Sandell robbed possession from former Bluebird Ellis Dunton before driving into the box but Aidan Bennett scrambled away his low ball across the face of goal.

Dunton headed wide of the Chippenham goal as Ciren carved out their first goalscoring opportunity of the match on the quarter-hour mark but the visitors went ahead just a minute later as Sandell dinked a delightful ball to the far post, where midfielder Matt Smith was on hand to side-foot home on the volley.

However, it took just six minutes for the hosts to get back on level terms in spectacular style, Zak Kotwica laying the ball off for full-back Bennett to almost dislodge the goal-frame from the ground as he hammered a blisteringly ferocious strike into the top corner.

Sandell shot inches wide as the Bluebirds set about attempting to restore their lead whist Ciren’s Kotwica flashed a long-range effort over Kent Kauppinen’s crossbar.

Then, on 30 minutes, Collier’s men made it 2-1 as Alan Griffin’s pinpoint flick-header cut out the entirety of the home defence, allowing Guthrie to bundle home from point-blank range at the far post.

Three minutes before the break, home fans were up in arms after Alan Griffin scythed down Shayne Anson but from the resultant free-kick, the Bluebirds blazed forward on the counter-attack, Alex Ferguson sending Sandell racing clear.

The Chippenham striker jinked past onrushing goalie Garner before showing ice-cool composure as he stood up two defenders before slotting away the visitors’ third of the afternoon.

Chippenham seemingly wrapped up victory 12 minutes into the second period as, after Chris Allan has struck the underside of the bar from a free-kick, Alan Griffin was allowed the freedom of the Corinium Stadium by as static Ciren defence as he waltzed forward to tuck away the rebound.

The Bluebirds refused to take their foot off the gas, goalie Garner beating away a firm strike from Sandell before Kauppinen got down to hold on to Kotwica’s effort.

Chippenham had appeals for a spot-kick turned down as Sandell went down in the box during a tangle with Dunton whilst in the 76th minute, Alan Griffin fired just wide from a Smith delivery.

With just over 10 minutes to go, a combination of blue shirts somehow hacked a goalbound effort off the line after Jamie Reid’s inswinging corner had caused chaos in the box.

Ciren substitute Ross Langworthy chipped a late effort not far wide of the Bluebirds goal and whilst there were few breaks in the downpour, Collier’s men had weathered the storm in style, getting their 2016 play-off push off to a superb start.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Harry Grant, Chris Allen, Greg Tindle (C), Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson (Ryan Campbell 53), Matt Smith, Alan Griffin (Ollie Taylor 81), Andy Sandell (Omar Simpson 81), James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Michael Pook, Scott Bevan.