CHIPPENHAM Town striker Luke Gullick says The Bluebirds have the experience to get promoted from the Southern League Premier Division, and insists his team can still finish first.

The Bluebirds could still top the the table and avoid the play-offs, but they would require slip-ups from Team Bath, Halesowen Town and King's Lynn.

Should Chippenham miss out on top spot, they look likely to make the play-offs, with Monday's meeting with rivals Gloucester City crucial to sealing their berth.

Chippenham forward Gullick says his side can consider themselves very much in the Southern League title race.

Gullick said: "You can't write us off. To be up there with seven games to go, I don't think people woulkd have thought that.

"We've still got a great chance of finishing top of this league.

"King's Lynn drew on Tuesday so it's much tighter now. We've got players coming back like Dave Pratt and Aaron Cornwall who will give something different.

"We're up there and we can do it if we grind out these three points every week. Other teams in and around us can slip up and do us a favour."

Some fans are worried that with an average age of 21, Chippenham do not have the experience to go up, but Gullick disagrees.

Gullick said: "I think we have. We've got great experience with Harvs and Sammy, they have brought us through this season.

"They help you learn basic things, encourage you to get through it and help you non-stop.

"Sammy Allison took me aside the other day and coached me on different things I could have done in the game. It's all good, I've got something to learn off him because he's been and done it.

"The younger lads don't have the experience, they just want to get out and play. The older lads have been in the play-offs and if they give us their experience, maybe we will come through at the end."

Chippenham are away to Merthyr Tydfil today and Gullick wants his team-mates to keep calm after the bad-tempered meeting between the sides two weeks ago.

Gullick said: "A lot of us are learning to control our discipline.

"We've missed so many key players this season and it's vital games now. We've got to make sure we don't do anything silly.

"We've got to keep cool and show them what we can do with a football.

"I've never played at a lot of the away teams in this league before. I've heard it's a good place to go and I'm just going to enjoy myself."

Gullick has been used by Chippenham boss Adie Mings as a winger a number of times this season, and though Gullick says he prefers to play up front, he is happy in any position.

Gullick said: "I want to be back up front and try and get some goals, but I just want to be playing football, even if it's right back or left back.

"I prefer it up front but if Adie wants me to do left wing or right wing I'm more than happy to."