CHIPPENHAM Town fans will be hoping caretaker manager Adie Mings has the ability to salvage anything they can from the season after they cruised this game.

Sean Seavill, Dave Gilroy and Kye Holly all scored, as the weight of Darren Perrin's reign visibly lifted off their shoulders and enthusiasm emphatically returned to Hardenhuish Park.

Mings immediately stamped his authority on the Bluebirds by appointing Iain Harvey as captain in place of the out-of-form Ian Herring.

Seavill started up front with Gilroy while Steve Cook was on the bench and Alan Griffin was still out after suffering concussion in the 5-0 defeat at Banbury.

Chippenham started the game tentatively, no surprise after the events of 24 hours before, but slowly got into a rhythm and Gilroy saw his header cleared off the line by Carl Williams only to see Herring blaze the rebound over.

But a noticeably louder home crowd (422) were almost silenced when Hitchin captain Liam Folds prodded the ball past Chris Snoddy, but Herring was the hero this time, sliding the ball off the line.

There was more of a spring in the Bluebirds play and Sam Allison epitomised a new found zest, frequently tracking back to help his defence before trying to release a quick attack.

Holly was revelling in being restored to his more natural central position in midfield as, after finding their feet, Chippenham started to dictate.

The first half was becoming drawn out in midfield but with Seavill and Gilroy linking up well the Bluebirds were still looking dangerous and so it proved when the strikers combined for the opener four minutes before half time.

Seavill skillfully took the ball down and threaded a delightful pass to Gilroy, who outpaced the defender, rounded visiting keeper Rob Beckwith and coolly scored from an acute angle.

The goal was the tonic the home side needed and they started the second half with a bang as Gilroy was denied by Beckwith before Seavill made it 2-0.

Sam Allison launched a long ball from the back, Gilroy dispossessed Ryan Frater - although the striker was lucky not to concede a free kick after seemingly clipping the heels of the big defender - and he squared it to Seavill who buried it from six yards. The confidence was flowing back and 60 seconds later it was three as Holly bent a quick free kick over Beckwith from 25 yards as the goalkeeper was still arranging his wall.

The team was now becoming unrecognisable as the ones who capitulated to Cheshunt, Wealdstone and more recently Banbury.

The game was won, but the Canaries started to press and Snoddy had to be alert as Frater's free kick from his own half angled into the area.

Seavill and Gilroy missed the chance for 4-0 as they contrived to over complicate a move, which finished with an offside flag against the latter when Frater was left exposed by his defence.

Josh Sozzo saw an 18 yard volley land on top of Snoddy's net before Gilroy was denied by Beckwith at the other end late on.