CHIPPENHAM Town suffered their first defeat of the season courtesy of a 3-2 reverse at home to Chelmsford City last Saturday.

Charlie Sheringham struck twice in the opening 20 minutes for the Essex outfit before Joe Hanks pulled a goal back three minutes into first-half stoppage time.

Former football league striker Simeon Jackson restored Chelmsford’s two-goal advantage on the hour, and despite a late rally and Harry Warwick tapping home from a missed penalty, Mike Cook’s men were unable to extend their unbeaten run into a sixth game.

The Bluebirds fell to ninth following the defeat, and Cook was disappointed with the start his side made – not for the first time this season.

Speaking to club media after the game, Cook said: “I don’t think we started well. I thought they started really well, a lot better than us. That’s the third game in a row where we’ve started slowly.

“Their journey was delayed and they got here a bit late, but sometimes that mentally switches you on a little bit quicker.

“I don’t think we got the rub of the green with some of the decisions, and that didn’t help us within those few minutes, but saying that we just need to be a little bit better from the first whistle.”

Hoping to react in a positive manner on Saturday, Chippenham meet Poole Town once again in the second round of FA Cup qualifying.

Last season’s contest was won on penalties by Cook’s men, and while the Chippenham boss is hoping to win the game a little earlier this year, he did predict another entertaining contest at the Tatnum Ground.

Cook said: “We won’t be going there to sit back or anything.

“Last year, I think we were 2-0 up after about 20 minutes and they were playing three at the back. They switched to a four and that made a bit of a difference as they got back in the game.

“To be fair, it’s a great game for the neutral because it was end to end last year, and it could have gone either way.

“We’re definitely going to rotate the squad because we’ve got three or four that have not played a lot of football.

“But also I think they’re good enough to come in and do a job, as two or three of them showed against Chelmsford City.”