THE intriguing battle for the Southern Premier crown will go to the final day of the season.

Chippenham's 3-2 win over Banbury saw the Bluebirds return to the top of the table, while Histon slipped to second after losing by the same score at Tiverton.

Should Histon win their game in hand over already-relegated Dunstable tomorrow, the two pacesetters will be locked on 75 points ahead of their last-day showdown next weekend.

Chippenham made hard work of lowly Banbury though, and had to come from a goal down to earn maximum points.

George Redknap drove in the visitors' deserved opener on 20 minutes but Steve White's men woke up and hit back when Ian Herring converted Rene Regis' cross.

Chippenham went ahead early in the second half as James Constable volleyed in via an upright.

Gary Thorne nodded in Ellis Wilmot's corner to give the hosts a cushion but there was a nervy quarter of an hour when substitute Chris Potter rifled past Mark Hervin from range.

The race for a Premier play-off spot is just as tight, with just three points separating the seven sides immediately below Histon.

Cirencester are still in that pack after a resounding 4-0 win at Dunstable relegating them in the process.

After weathering some early pressure, Ciren went ahead midway through the first half when Gareth Hopkins poked in Jody Bevan's pass.

Within three minutes it was 2-0 Nick Stanley's strike came back off a post but Marc Richards reacted to tee up a tap in for Paul Hunt.

The Centurions dominated after half-time and Dunstable's cause was further hindered when keeper Paul Taylor was sent off for handling outside the box.

Kevin Halliday buried the resulting free-kick to make it three.

Hopkins rounded makeshift custodian Andrew Findlay to complete the scoring with 20 minutes remaining.

n Swindon Supermarine had their Division One West trip to Cinderford postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The rearranged game has been pencilled in to take place this Wednesday which means a busy few days for Mark Collier's men, who travel to Paulton this evening.

Results elsewhere were mixed. Bracknell's 1-1 draw with Rothwell moved them above Marine who are now right on the fringe of the drop zone.

But Oxford City's 2-1 loss at Corby leaves the Swindon side needing three points from three games to guarantee safety.

If Oxford lose their one remaining fixture, Marine will also survive.