CHIPPENHAM Town boss Steve White is giving is side a New Year's resolution - to score first in games.

White is concerned at the number of games in which his relegation-threatened side has had to come from a goal down and wants them to get their noses in front first.

He said: "In the last eight games we have conceded the first goal. That is possibly a little bit of psychological thinking there where we are happy to sit back.

"Maybe we need to be a little more direct with our approach play and build up play and maybe sometimes miss out the midfield a little bit. We have done an awful lot with them in training with possession play and trying to move the ball fairly quickly through the field.

"Conceding first is definitely something we can do without because it puts extra unwanted pressure on the team."

Town picked up their first win under White just before Christmas when they came back from a goal down to beat Chelmsford 3-1.

Then on Saturday they bounced back from a half-time deficit and had chances to beat Weston-Super-Mare before settling for a 1-1 draw.

Now they face two vital games in three days with a trip to Tiverton Town today and a tough game against fourth-placed Nuneaton at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday.

Chippenham's draw at the weekend stretched their unbeaten league run to three matches but they will have been kicking themselves for not beating ten-man Weston.

The Bluebirds played with confidence and created chances in the first half only to go a goal down on the stroke of half-time.

When Weston's Justin Skinner was sent off for a professional foul and Charlie Griffin scored from the resulting free-kick it looked like Steve White's men would go on and win the game.

But they failed to make their numerical advantage count and at the final whistle it was Weston who were on the front foot.

White said: "We were disappointed not to take all three points because we were all over them like a rash and created numerous goal-scoring chances in the second half.

"It was a superb strike from Charlie and he is right on his game now scoring in the last three games and playing with a lot of confidence.

"Straight after that Charlie's had a great reverse header textbook style back across the goalkeeper and he's hit the bar. What more can you do?

"But Weston are a dogged side and have got four or five ex-professionals in their team and you always know they are going to stick in there until the death."

Ian Herring sent an early pot-shot over the bar while at the other end a flicked header by Matthew Rose was held by Mark Hervin.

Weston's defence looked nervous as Stuart Jones made a hash of an over-hit back pass by Skinner.

Griffin hit a first time shot from 20 yards with Jones well out of his goal but the weak effort was blocked by William Clark. The former Swindon Town striker looked confident and rounded Jones soon after but saw his shot from an acute blocked at the near post by Lee Jarman.

Weston hit back minutes later when former West Ham midfielder Stuart Slater picked out Luke Corbett with a tantalising cross but Tom Gould was quick to block the shot with Hervin stranded.

Marc McGregor, who was on loan at Hardenhuish earlier in the season, had a largely quiet game but had a decent penalty shout dismissed after he went down in the area under a challenge from Andy Robertson.

Herring struck the post following a Nathan Edwards pass but he was flagged offside anyway while at the other end former Chippenham trialist Lewis Hogg fizzed an effort narrowly over.

The first half continued to remain balanced with Adie Mings and Herring putting further efforts over the bar.

The best chance for the home side came on 32 minutes when loan signing Michael Green delivered a superb cross from the right and Griffin's bullet header was denied by a wonderful save from Jones.

A minute later Hervin produced his best save of the half diving full length to push away Stephen Benton's deceptive 30-yard effort.

The opening goal came on the stroke of half-time when Luke Corbett skipped past Colin Towler and drilled the ball low past Hervin.

The Bluebirds fought back after the break and equalised on 58 minutes when Skinner tripped Martin Paul from behind with the striker clean through. Skinner got his marching orders and Griffin doubled the punishment by curling home a superb 20-yard free-kick.

Minutes later Griffin rattled the crossbar with a delightful reverse header from Ellis Wilmot's free-kick.

But after that Chippenham failed to make their extra man count and it was Weston who were on the front foot at the final whistle with Matthew Rose going close.