DAVID Gilroy's 23rd goal of the season ensured it will be a two-horse race for the Southern League title.

Third-placed Bedford Town knew nothing short of three points at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday would realistically keep their outside championship hopes alive.

But after taking a first-half lead, the prolific Gilroy was in the right place at the right time to steer home Scott Walker's enticing centre and earn the Bluebirds a share of the spoils.

Chippenham manager Steve White was satisfied with a point on an afternoon of few scoring opportunities. He said: "Both teams can be fairly happy with a point. We played some good stuff, kept our shape, but our final pass in and around the box wasn't good enough. But I was very pleased with our desire level. We kept going, took the game to them and did not sit back.''

White praised Bedford defender and captain Lee Howarth for his part in repelling the threat of Gilroy and his partner James Constable, who was kept quiet throughout the second half after a lively opening.

"He has a lot of league experience,'' added White, referring to stints at Peterborough United and Mansfield. "Credit to him, he is a great organiser and he kept their defence nice and solid. We found it difficult to penetrate.''

It was not until the forced introduction of winger Walker after 36 minutes that Chippenham started to look threatening. He replaced midfielder Ben Kirk who was rushed to hospital with an ankle ligament injury that has ruled hom out for the rest of the season.

The Bluebirds were already a goal behind at that stage. Powerhouse striker Rene Howe won his header over Ian Herring and his partner Daniel Purzycki out-stripped skipper Gary Thorne before casually poking the ball past Mark Hervin.

Thorne was lucky not to be caught out again before the break. This time Howe latched onto Paris Okai's flick and the big defender used all his muscle and experience, stretching the laws of the game to the limit, to throw the forward off balance enough for him to fluff his shot.

Somewhat surprisingly, Thorne had been Chippenham's biggest threat at the other end. A couple of no-nonsense thunderbolt free kicks and a downward header were the best the hosts could offer to the expectant 742-strong crowd inside Hardenhuish. It seems the two late goals at Aylesbury have given the captain confidence in front of goal.

But it was the Eagles from Bedford who finished the half strongest with the pacey Ashley Blake gracefully skipping past three defenders before jabbing his effort onto Hervin's crossbar with the outside of the boot.

It took just four minutes of the second half for Chippenham to draw level though. Walker used his trickery, and persistence, to get the better of Blake on his way to the by-line. His low cross beat the crowd who had gathered at the near post and Gilroy was not going to turn down the gift from inside the six-yard box.

"He likes them,'' said White, himself a long serving member of the centre forwards' club.

Walker, carrying an ankle injury, was the main supply line for Chippenham, knocking in four decent crosses after the equaliser (he also crashed a volley over the bar after juggling for a six count).

His best, from his favoured left side, was crying out to be converted as it flashed across goal. Had Gilroy not been on the sidelines receiving treatment for the tackle that led to the free kick, it might well have been. The race for the title continues

Chippenham: Hervin, Regis, McEntegart, Thorne, Herring, Badman, Wilmot, Kirk (Walker), Gilroy, Constable, Jones. Subs not used: Bunyard, Charity, Davidson, Horgan.