Five of our local senior clubs finished runners-up in their respective leagues; bringing joy for four of them and heartbreak for one. ANDY CRYER reviews the 2004-2005 season.

CHIPPENHAM Town fans will still be wondering how their heroes did not get promoted this season after watching them dominate the Southern League Premier Division.

Play-off final misery at the hands of Hednesford Town was rough justice for a side that topped the league for the majority of the campaign and were hardly ever out of the top three.

Lack of discipline ultimately cost them, with three sending offs in the last six games, but with a little bit more luck, Chippenham would have had the title sewn up long before the last few games.

As the heartbreak begins to ease, Steve White's men have every right to pat themselves on the back for a campaign that exceeded anyone's realistic expectations.

With a budget considerably lower than most sides in the division they had no right to be challenging for promotion but for two thirds of the season they looked to be achieving the improbable.

Thirty-goal striker Dave Gilroy was Town's brightest star after joining from Weston-super-Mare in October and together with James Constable and Sam Allison formed a formidable three-pronged attack.

His pace, finishing and quick thinking saw him terrorise Southern League defences and surely it will not be long before he returns to a higher standard of football.

Sam Allison was perhaps the biggest surprise of the campaign as he finally turned his undoubted potential into an end product.

The former England Schoolboy player has often failed to utilise his searing pace to full effect in the past but with the expert tuition of manager White, he too now looks to have an exciting future.

Long-term injuries to midfielders Scott Walker and Mark Badman were perhaps the pivotal points of the season and you can't help but wonder where Town would have been had those two been available all campaign.

Badman's importance to the team was clear for all to see in the derby against Bath City in April. After running the game for the first 20 minutes and helping the hosts into a two-goal lead, he departed with another injury and the Bluebirds crashed to a 4-2 defeat.

His discipline record in recent weeks will also be a cause for concern as two red cards in the space of a month proved costly. His absence, due to suspension, in a dire play-off final was perhaps the decisive blow.

Walker's guile on the left wing has also been a big miss as his troublesome ankle injury saw him sit out a lot of the campaign. Probably the most talented player at the club, Walker could have made a big difference.

Gary Thorne proved to be an inspired signing as he, Ian Herring and Matthew McEntegart formed an impressive defensive trio.

With youngsters like Ben Kirk and Lee Davidson impressing this season, a promised budget hike and two or three experienced signings, Chippenham Town could perhaps go one better next time round.

At Chippenham's presentation night at Neeld Hall on Friday night Gilroy won the manager's player of the year award, Gary Thorne was supporters' club player of the year, Ian Herring the young player of the year and Mark Hervin the players' player of the year. Simon Charity was presented with a loyalty award.