CHIPPENHAM Town had to settle for a 0-0 draw against St Albans City in National League South on Saturday as strong winds curtailed both teams’ attempts to play any kind of good-quality football at Hardenhuish Park.

The Bluebirds made most of the early running, but could not create any clear-cut chances in the opening half-hour, while on-loan goalkeeper Brad House had to react sharply to deny St Albans before the break.

Chippenham came out on the front foot in the second 45 minutes and both Nat Jarvis and Karnell Chambers had chances to win the game, but the visitors held on as the Bluebirds had to make do with a point – their first point in three games.

Manager Mark Collier blamed the wind for restricting both sides to limited opportunities, but paid tribute to the visitors’ defensive set-up as well as that of his own team.

He said: “The conditions were the turning point in the game – it was difficult to make a clear and proper chance due to the conditions.

“The pitch and the high winds made it very, very difficult for both sides. Overall, a 0-0 draw was a fair result.

“We had a couple of decent chances in the first half – Karnell Chambers and Nat Jarvis both had a decent chance in the last few minutes, and Brad House made a good save, but it almost had 0-0 written all over it, really.

“It was a difficult game in difficult conditions and one goal looked like it would have settled it.

"It would have been a mistake that led to it, but both teams were very well-organised, very compact and both defences were on top.”

The draw leaves Chippenham in 11th in the table, while further strengthening their record against the top teams.

Collier felt his side’s disappointment at not claiming the win shows where the club is at now and was encouraged by another clean sheet for his players.

He said: “There were very few chances over the course of the 90 minutes.

“We’re disappointed to only draw, but at the same time, we’re pleased to keep another clean sheet and it’s another point and we’ve avoided a loss against one of the big clubs in the division.

“We’ve got a very young side and we were playing against a very experienced one and an experienced club, who have been at this level for a while now.

“It just goes to show how far we’ve come in a short space of time that we’re disappointed with only a draw.”