MARK Collier hopes that he did the best thing for Chippenham Town’s Southern League Premier Division promotion hopes by shuffling his pack for their Wiltshire Senior Cup clash with Swindon Supermarine.

Collier took the Bluebirds to his former club on Tuesday night but made a raft of changes, leaving first-choice central defenders Greg Tindle and Will Richards out altogether as Marine ran out 2-1 winners at the Webbswood Stadium.

Brothers Josh and Callum Parsons netted first-half free-kicks as the hosts progressed to the quarter-finals of the county cup at Chippenham’s expense, with substitute Dave Pratt’s overhead kick proving little more than a consolation effort.

But with a home clash against second-from-bottom Cambridge City on Saturday and trip to basement boys Cinderford Town next Tuesday on the horizon, Collier, whose troops are second in the table, admits he always had one eye on his side’s league campaign.

“In the first half, we were very poor and didn’t get near anybody. Maybe that’s down to me – we made six changes from Saturday,” said the Bluebirds boss.

“There were a few that hadn’t played for a little while and they certainly looked a little off the pace but they needed game time, so it was important that I use them.

“The second half was a little bit better – once we stepped up, got it forward and had a bit more purpose about us, we were better – but we haven’t played well.

“We’re disappointed to lose a game of football, however it is what it is – we’ve got what we want out of it.

“(Conor) McCormack’s come back and played 90 minutes, (Michael) Pook’s had some game time, Chrissy Allen’s had a bit more game time, Alan Griffin’s had his first start of the season, Reeko Best’s had his first start of the season.

“We’ve got five or six of them pitch but I suppose, in hindsight, six changes was to many changes to make and expect it all to gel.

“We played a slightly different set-up than we have been playing but it was an opportunity for some of those players to come in and stake their claim and unfortunately, some of them haven’t managed to do that.

“My priority was always Saturday and I had to be wary of what I did – I thought: ‘shall we go with what we have been doing’ and then I thought: ‘no, we need to look at the bigger picture’, and maybe that’s one of the reasons we pulled up short.

“Credit to Supermarine. They’ve won the game and I hope they get a good draw.

“We’ve got two games against the bottom two teams, who are fighting for their lives. Cambridge, I think, are in a bit of a false positon, so that will be a difficult game.

“But we know now that, other than James Guthrie, everyone’s got some game time in their legs.

“He thought that he could a little bit of game time but that didn’t quite work out.”

Collier is also expecting to have midfielder Ryan Campbell back available for Saturday’s meeting with Cambridge.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Darren Chitty, Dan Bowman, Jon Beeden, Chris Allen (David Pratt 66), Conor McCormack, Gary Horgan, Reeko Best (Matt Smith 45), Michael Pook (Alex Ferguson 68), Alan Griffin, Andy Sandell (C), Matt Jones.

Subs not used: Will Richards, James Guthrie.