CHIPPENHAM Town overcame one of their stiffest challenges of the season to date as they defeated in form Kettering Town with a wonder goal from Will Richards.

The result was even more impressive as it was achieved without the suspended pair of influential captain Greg Tindle and vice captain and leading scorer in the Southern Premier division Andy Sandell.

By a quirk of the fixture list, this game on the second Saturday in February saw a repeat of last season's match when the then mid-table Poppies defeated the then top of the table Bluebirds, which heralded an eleven match run that resulted in only two victories for the Bluebirds and a subsequent fall from the play off positions.

The second half was a nail biting time for the Bluebird supporters in the five hundred plus crowd as the Poppies threw four men up front and their physical approach was matched by the Bluebirds who put their bodies on the line and defended manfully to keep the Northamptonshire side at bay to retain their place at the top of the table.

The first chance fell to Richards, whose 12th minute shot was stopped on the line by Dom Langdon. Kettering responded with their only on target effort of the first half, with Liam Canavan's free-kick piercing the home wall but was safely pouched by Darren Chitty.

On 22 minutes, Dave Pratt's cross found strike partner Jake Andrews, on loan from Bristol City, but his shot was blocked.

The all important goal came on 24 minutes with the away defence back-peddling as Richards drove forward and he let fly with a thunderous thirty-yard effort that flew into the net.

Kettering responded as a combination of Langdon and Rene Howe presented Arron O'Connor with a chance, which he put wide.

On the half hour, White did well to push away Matt Smith's shot and two minutes later made an even better save as James Guthrie's free-kick found the head of Pratt.

Just before the break, Kettering appeared fortunate to escape a penalty when Andrews's cross appeared to be blocked by Solkhon's arm.

After the break, the Poppies' Lewis Hornby fired over whilst at the other end, a Chippenham corner saw Alex Ferguson's volley loop over the bar. Just before the hour mark, White had to dive at full stretch to turn Andrews's low free kick around a post.

As the away side increased the pressure, Canavan shot wide when well-placed, O'Connor's shot hit a home defender, James Brighton's effort was off target and Howe's shot lacked the power to beat Chitty.

The Poppies best chance to rescue a point came five minutes from time when Brighton's corner was headed against the bar by Solkhon and Brighton's follow up shot went over the bar.

The away side created two more chances with Howe's chip easily claimed by Chitty and substitute Matthew Barnes-Homer shot wide.

Chippenham: Chitty, Bowman, Felix, Horgan, Baggridge, Richards, Ferguson (Pook 80), Smith, Pratt, Andrews (McClennan 87), Guthrie subs not used: Beeden, Jones, Mateus

Att: 515

Ref: Bhupinder Gill - Iver