CHIPPENHAM Town manager Steve White is warning his players to ease off on the festive beer and chocolate as he bids to use their first league win in three months as a springboard to escape relegation.

The Bluebirds' 3-1 win at Chelmsford City on Saturday means they have have picked up four points from two games and former Swindon Town star White called for more of the same. He said the Christmas period could make or break their season.

They entertain fellow strugglers Weston-super-Mare on Boxing Day before travelling to tackle Tiverton Town on New Year's Day. Then on January 4 fourth-placed Nuneaton Borough are the visitors to Hardenhuish.

White said: "We will be training right through the festive period as normal but of course the players will have an opportunity to be with their families. We have told them to have everything in moderation.

"We are checking their weight closely and if people have too much over Christmas it will soon show up on the training pitch.

"It is the kind of thing we did at the professional level and we expect our semi-professional players to behave like pros as well. With the size of the squad and the options we now have the players in the team know they have to fight to keep hold of their shirts."

While White was pleased to get his first league win as Chippenham boss he said there was no time to celebrate.

"We were really happy to have got the three points but the first thing I said to the players was lets think about Weston," he said. "After the game we didn't go over the top and I just told the lads that we need to get things right for the Weston match.

"It's our first win since September or October and we need to keep sensible and keep doing things properly.

"But we aren't going to celebrate anything yet. We are still right in the bottom three."

He continued: "Our first target was getting our first win. Now I have set them the challenge of getting back to back wins. The Weston game is going to be another six-pointer. We have got a lot of games coming up against teams down the bottom and all these games are vitally important."

Town went behind on 36 minutes but for the second successive week they rolled up their sleeves and Adie Mings equalised on the stroke of half-time.

The Bluebirds took the lead when Mings and Ian Herring combined well to put Charlie Griffin free inside the area and he shot low into the corner of the net.

Four minutes later Mings battled down the right and crossed the ball to Griffin who in turn found substitute Martin Paul who again fired low past Paul Nicholls.

Now he has a fuller squad to choose from White says the side have a much better chance of coming through the important Christmas period with a string of good results.

"The lads have been working extremely hard in training and things are starting to come right. The three lads who were left out, James Constable, Scott Walker and Gary Horgan, will all get their turn. There are a lot of games coming up quickly now.

"It is nice to have that strength in depth."

The revolving door at Chippenham is still spinning. On Friday White confirmed the signing on 19-year-old Michael Green on a month's loan from Southampton.

The first-year professional can play in either defence or midfield and has already featured for Saints reserves and was given the task of marking Chelsea's Danish international Jesper Gronkjaer on his debut.

White could be set to strengthen his midfield further. Ex-Bristol Rovers midfielder Lewis Hogg trained at Hardenhuish last week and is expected to train with them again.

Going in the opposite direction is popular midfielder Mark Harrington who has completed a move to Screwfix League Paulton Rovers.

He was approached by manager Darren Perrin last week and has now agreed an 18-month deal. The 27-year-old's contract was due to end in the summer.

White said he was disappointed to see the player leave but said it was Harrington's choice. "The decisive factor was the 18-month-contract I feel," he said. "I cannot guarantee any of my lads new contracts next year. They have got to show that they deserve one.

"Darren Perrin came on very strong and I felt I was duty bound to inform Mark."