CHIPPENHAM Town boss Steve White says Saturday's vital promotion clash at Hednesford Town is a case of winner takes all.

The Bluebirds' 6-1 stuffing at Hardenhuish Park at the hands of play-off rivals Dorchester Town has thrown the promotion chase wide open again.

The shock result clouded Chippenham's decent away draw at high-flying Worcester City last Saturday.

Now the onus is on the Bluebirds' players to bounce back and it is vital they do not lose to Hednesford this weekend.

Chippenham currently occupy 18th position in the table, the last promotion play-off place, and are only three points in front of Hednesford who are currently rock bottom.

A win or defeat for either team will have big repercussions on their season and Chippenham boss White is not playing down the importance of the game.

He said: "We've got three league games left now and they are all cup finals.

"If you look at Saturday's game at Hednesford it really is a case of winner takes all.

"There are now about five or six teams vying to get out of the bottom four and it's going to be as simple as that in all three games.

"In my opinion I think we need two wins out of three to make the play-off positions.

"Come the end of the season 49 may be enough but then again it may not be. We'll have to wait and see."

Despite Hednesford being bottom of the table White is expecting them to provide his players with a stern test.

"Hednesford have got to the final of the FA Trophy so the clearly can't be mugs," he added.

"But we will go up there with an equal chance of winning and I guess on the day it will be down to whoever wants it the most.

"Looking at the positives we have done exceptionally well away from home this season.

"The 6-1 loss to Dorchester was a shock but now I am looking for a reaction from the players.

"We will be looking for them to show the necessary character and I am sure they will do that."

White continued: "Nothing I have seen so far in all our performances this season has been anything other than true commitment.

"The main thing I want to see on Saturday is a positive reaction."

White's only criticism of his players' from Monday was that not enough of them seemed prepared to get stuck into Dorchester.

"The Dorchester result was very disappointing and we made too many individual errors at the back," he said.

"But the main thing I was unhappy about with Monday's performance was that I wanted to see more of our players letting Dorchester know they were in a game in the second half.

"If Roy Keane was in a side that were 6-1 down you can bet he would be shedding blood until the final whistle.

"But commitment has not been a problem for us during the season and I'm sure the players will stand up and be counted."

White admitted that the club's financial constraints and small squad had proved a hindrance.

But he added that promotion through the play-offs was still in their own hands.

"If we reach our goal of a play-off position it will be a victory despite the massive odds stacked us," he added.

"Let play commence. The real characters will now come to the fore."

White does not have any major injury problems to contend with going into the Hednesford game.

The recently returned Mark Badman should be fit despite noticeably tiring on Monday while Charlie Griffin is expected to shake off a kick to his knee.

White's transfer deadline day signings Rene Regis and Lee Davidson both featured against Dorchester and White said they could play an important part in the promotion push.

"We signed them because we have a small squad and it could well be that they have major part to play in our season," he said.

"I was absolutely pleased to have got them both on board and felt we did well considering the limited finances we have got to play with."

Meanwhile, this Monday will offer Chippenham a welcome distraction to the pressures of the promotion chase.

The Bluebirds are playing Swindon Town in the final of the Wiltshire Premier Shield. Kick-off at Hardenhuish Park will be at 7.30pm.

White said: "The game will maybe allow me the chance to give players a game who have not featured regularly.

"It is also nice to have a game against my former club Swindon and I believe they are going to bring a half decent side with a sprinkling of experienced players.

"Hopefully there will be a good crowd and it would be nice to win a bit of silverware."