MARK Hervin believes Chippenham Town have worked miracles to even be challenging for a place in the play-offs going into the last game of the season.

The keeper points to being bottom of the table just before Christmas and admits being in the position they are in now was beyond all expectations in December.

They travel to Hinckley tomorrow knowing an away win and then two of their three rivals above them slipping up will put them in the play offs for the new Conference league.

He said: "If you look at it, we looked as though we were dead and buried at Christmas time and so for us to take it to the last game of the season is a wonderful achievement.

"It keeps the season interesting for the fans and does give us something to play for at Hinckley. We go there knowing we have to win.

Since Steve White was appointed manager in November Chippenham's form has improved but back-to-back drubbings at the hands of Dorchester Town and Hednesford could prove costly.

Hervin said: "Inconsistency has been the story of the season, but for the second half of the campaign we have been playing catch up and it has been hard.

"Also for any team to do well you have to make your home ground a fortress and we have struggled to do that. I don't think we got our first home win until after Christmas.

"Our away form has been good but our home form could cost us. We have been pushing hard but who knows maybe we have left ourselves too much to do."

Hervin is no stranger to this situation having played in a number of relegation battles for Bath City.

He said: "I have been here before and have won one and lost one so it would be great if I could make that two successes.

"I will be talking to some of the lads and just telling them all we can do is win our game. They know that anyway.

"I don't know how Steve White will play it, whether he will tell us what is going on, but it doesn't really matter because we have to win. He will keep in touch because he might have to tell us to go for more goals if it looks like it is going down to goal difference."

The shot stopper admits failure to reach the play-offs tomorrow will leave many players thinking over mistakes from earlier in the season.

He said: "I remember when I got relegated with Bath you thought about a late goal here and a dropped catch there. It is the natural thing to do but there is no point as you can't change things.

"We will go to Hinckley fully prepared and I am sure they would love to relegate us but we will be doing everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen. For excitement for the fans and the players and there are only two places to be, at the top looking for promotion or at the bottom fighting relegation.

"Some good young lads are coming through and the future is looking good. If we manage to get into the Conference then it will be brilliant.

"I have played there before and I know it is a great place to be. The shop window will open up for some of them and there is no doubt it will be very good for them."