A SENSATIONAL double from hot-shot striker James Constable ensured the Bluebirds stormed three points clear at the top of the Southern Premier Division.

With the Martyrs in third place before Saturday's game, the stakes were high and Chippenham took a big step closer to winning the Southern Premier title when they avenged a 3-2 defeat to Merthyr in Wales last November.

With Chippenham edging closer towards the title manager Steve White believes his side have surpassed his wildest dreams this season.

He said: "I think we have reached a new level and I am delighted with the way we played for the entire 90 minutes.

"The team have done extremely well and we have put ourselves in a great position for as least a top five finish."

White heaped praise on his strike force of Constable and Sam Allison and felt they were the decisive factor in a fiercely contested match.

"Our forwards had the edge and both did exceptionally well, Allison and Constable are both young but are learning how to play the centre forward role and have years left ahead of them," said the former Swindon striker.

After two goals against Salisbury in the Wiltshire Premier Shield last Tuesday, the top of the table clash saw Constable's first league start since the beginning of December.

He saw his chance to impress the manager at a packed Hardenhuish Park, which housed the season's highest gate of 902, and the young forward did just that.

He looked lively in a close first half of few goalscoring opportunities, his best effort came in the 35th minute when he collected a long throw from defender Ian Herring, turned his marker and fired at goal. But visiting keeper Ashley Morris was up to the challenge and saved to his right.

In the early stages of the second half Merthyr continued to battle for possession and the game looked like it might be heading for a stalemate.

But a draw was not what Constable had in mind and he finally broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, getting on the end of winger Scott Walker's inch perfect pass.

With a defender in front of him on the edge of the Merthyr penalty box, the robust striker went round centre back Gethin Jones and powered the ball with precision into the top corner.

He put the clash beyond the visitors in the 70th minute with his fourth goal in two games and his 16th of the season.

Walker's vision and passing was top class again as he found Allison on the left wing, the striker ran the ball to the byline and delivered a menacing cross that eluded the Welsh defence allowing Constable to charge in with a late run and head in the killer goal.

He almost grabbed his hat-trick with ten minutes left when a free kick from Walker found him five yards away from goal, but Morris made the best save of the match showing great reactions to stop the striker's close range shot.

The forward was not the only player making a return to the league as midfield dynamo Mark Badman was making his first appearance in the Southern League since October, following an Achilles injury.

After two matches in cup competitions the ex-Bath City player looks like he has returned to form and controlled the midfield area with a sharp display of tackling.

He helped Chippenham to regain possession time and again and followed up his challenges with great distribution and passing.

As the game drew to a close the Welsh guests pushed forward and tried to get something from the game. They might have achieved that if it had not been for the exploits of keeper Mark Hervin.

With just two minutes left Hervin preserved a clean sheet when he made a fine save to deny midfielder Chris Bale from 20 yards.

There was jubilation on the pitch at full time as the players went on a lap of honour and waved to the ecstatic home supporters.

Chippenham: Hervin, Regis, Mcentegart, Thorne, Herring, Badman, Wilmot, Kirk, Allison (Gilroy 81) Constable, Walker. Subs not used: Charity, Davidson, Horgan, Jones.