CHIPPENHAM Town chief Mark Collier hopes to reap the benefits of a rare weekend off as his team look to make it back-to-back wins in National League South for the first time.

The Bluebirds were rampant 5-1 winners at home to Hemel Hempstead Town a fortnight ago but were denied the chance to follow that up last Saturday due to their early elimination in the FA Cup.

Collier’s troops played 13 fixtures in the opening seven weeks of their maiden campaign in the National League but have the luxury of travelling to Welling United this weekend well rested.

“We have had Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday football back-to-back since the start of the season and we have picked up injuries along the way,” said Collier.

“We have had two or three lads carrying knocks so hopefully a little break will do them good.

“We would have liked to have backed up the last victory with another game but we knew we were in for an enforced break. I think the players were looking forward to that, I know I certainly was, and hopefully we can come back in refreshed and ready to go again.”

Town have won four of 12 league fixtures since their promotion as Southern League champions last term and boast a solid 15 points.

That is only one fewer than their weekend opponents, although Welling are currently on a five-match unbeaten run.

“They are on a good unbeaten run. They started quite poorly but they have picked up. They are the home side so the onus will be on them,” said Collier.

“We know it’s difficult to go away and get a result in this division but we do know the pitch is decent there.

“We are in confident mood, as they will be, so hopefully it is a decent game of football. If we can come back home with something from the performance we will be pleased.

“All along we know we have been playing quite well but unfortunately, the league we are in is fairly ruthless and if you make errors, you get punished for it and that has been the case. I don’t think there has been too much luck going our way but we know have been competitive in almost every single game.

“It’s so much more unforgiving than the Southern Premier and tactically, everyone is very astute, there is a lot of physicality and a lot of pace and power in the sides.

“We are competing and we are in with some big clubs and some good clubs and we are enjoying it.”

The Hemel game was Jake Andrews’ last at the club on loan as he has since returned to Bristol City, while Andy Sandell is suspended.