MARK Collier is on a major recruitment drive with his Supermarine squad set to be stretched to breaking point.

The departure of Dave Toomey and Matty Goodwin to Fairford had already prompted the Hunts Copse chief to scour the transfer market.

Hamstring injuries are likely to prevent Dave Hunt and Steve Jenkins making the trip to Rothwell tomorrow.

And the sendings off of Dave Gee, Mark Draycott and Steve Davies in the 2-1 defeat at Ashford on Wednesday night will leave Collier desperately short of players when their respective suspensions kick in.

Said Collier: "We are short of numbers me and Howeller (assistant Ian Howell) are working hard to get a couple more bodies on board.

"We're talking to people and that's all we can do. I don't think we'll have any by the weekend but hopefully there will be signings by Monday."

One of the targets is Calne striker Matt Pratley for whom seven days has been submitted.

On the midweek disciplinary debacle at Ashford, Collier added: "The referee was bad but we were worse we could have been 5-0 down at half-time."

He will be looking for an improvement against Rothwell, who are in the thick of the promotion race in Division One West of the Southern League.

n CHIPPENHAM finally ended their Hardenhuish Park hoodoo last Saturday and another home victory tomorrow could lift them to the summit of the Southern Premier.

The 5-2 win over struggling Hemel Hempstead was the Bluebirds' first on their own patch for four months and lifted them to within a point of current leaders Merthyr.

Further relegation fodder in the shape of Dunstable arrive in Wiltshire tomorrow and after a 6-0 victory in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the season, hopes are high that Chippenham can take pole position.

"We have had a great start to 2005," said manager Steve White.

"I said before the Hemel Hempstead game that if we could get six points from the next two fixtures we can consider ourselves contenders."

Chippenham are still without Wayne Thorne and Ben Kirk (back) also faces a fitness test, but in-form striker Dave Gilroy will feature after extending his loan from Weston-super-Mare for a third month.

Providing Chippenham secure three points, White will be hoping neighbours Cirencester can do them a favour by accounting for current table toppers Merthyr.

Victory in Wales wouldn't do the Centurions' own title chances any harm either.

They can move top themselves if they win their two games in hand.

Manager Brian Hughes has defensive problems ahead of the trip. Darren Robision is out for a month with a hamstring injury and Neil Arndale needs a scan on a groin problem.

But Hughes hopes to conclude a deal for a high-profile veteran centre-half in time to travel.