AFTER travelling without influential skipper Greg Tindle, Chippenham Town suffered a further blow as an accident on the A435 saw them having to retrace their steps before being caught up in traffic on Birdlip Hill.

Worse was to follow as they suffered their heaviest league defeat of the season at Redditch United on Wednesday night, as well as conceding their only league double of the campaign.

Chippenham, whose hopes of making the play-offs came to an end on Tuesday, took the lead on six minutes when Redditch lost possession in their own half and the ball was played forward to Ben Whitehead, who won a strong challenge on the edge of the area.

The ball broke kindly for him and he was able to smash a shot home past Jose Veiga.

Two minutes later, the hosts’ Eli Bako back-heeled the ball to Ashley Sammons, who shot wide and as Redditch pressed, Robbie Thompson-Brown's 25-yard effort went wide whilst Kent Kauppinen superbly saved the same player's close-range shot following a long throw.

Matt Jones was off-target with a shot from out wide on 18 minutes before two minutes later, Will Richards found Sammon, who instigated a neat side-step before firing home.

Five minutes later, Sammons saw his looping shot claimed by Kauppinen. At the other end, Jones' shot went wide.

Just before the half-hour mark successive shots from Simeon May were blocked by Luke Ballinger but Redditch took the lead when Mark Preece's sliced clearance went for a corner, from which Jim Mutton touched home at the near post.

Bako's curled shot then went wide whilst Alan Griffin's attempt under pressure from two defenders was claimed by Veiga.

Redditch hit their third in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Will Richards headed home from a Sammons free-kick.

Before Redditch scored again the Bluebirds squandered several good chances as Whitehead hooked his shot wide following a Michael Pook long throw.

A Bluebirds short corner saw Jones' driven cross headed goalwards by Alex Ferguson but Veiga claimed the ball.

Meanwhile, a Sammons effort went wide whilst substitute Alex Fletcher 's 35-yard strike was saved by Kauppinen. At the other end, Jones low free-kick pierced the wall but Veiga was able to fall on the ball.

From a Redditch corner, Richards’ close-range shot was blocked on the line.

On 63 minutes, Chippenham broke three on two, but Jones went too wide and his eventual shot went across the face of goal to Ferguson, who hit the side-netting.

Griffin also had an overhead kick from within the six-yard box, which was saved by Veiga.

Redditch extended their lead on 69 minutes when Ballinger was robbed by Bako and he threaded the ball to Sam Merson, the son of former Arsenal player Paul, and he curled a shot home.

Two minutes later, a free-kick fell to Griffin but he blazed over.

Redditch showed their visitors how to finish as Robbie Thompson-Brown's well-struck shot made it 5-1 on 77 minutes and five minutes later, Merson hit his second with a 35-yard drive that left Kauppinen unsighted.

Substitute James Guthrie's free-kick cleared the bar but two minutes from time, he played Whitehead in behind the defence and he rounded Veiga before tapping home a consolation goal for the Bluebirds.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Luke Ballinger, Harry Grant, Alec Fiddes (Michael Pook 46), Jon Beeden, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Matt Smith (Ryan Campbell 46), Alan Griffin (James Guthrie 79), Ben Whitehead, Matt Jones.

Subs not used: Scott Bevan.

Referee: Chris Husband

Attendance: 295