THE Chippenham Town board will be keen to appoint a successor to Tommy Saunders as soon as possible after the managerless Bluebirds were beaten 3-0 at home by impressive Stafford Rangers.

Chippenham were a beaten side by half-time as some woeful defending gifted the visitors an unassailable three-goal lead inside 40 minutes.

The home side's 100th game in the Dr Martens League got off to the worst possible start as Stafford notched the softest of goals as early as the fourth minute.

A quick free-kick found Nick Colley on the edge of the box and his harmless-looking low shot squeezed into the net under the body of keeper Mark Hervin.

The visitors doubled their lead on 30 minutes when Craig Wilding seized upon a Gary Horgan error and sent Daniel Davidson clear to roll in the second.

Chippenham were caught short again five minutes before the half-time break as Robert Heath was able to find an unguarded net from a narrow angle.

Buoyed by the introduction of former Swindon Town defender Gareth Davies, Chippenham enjoyed the better of the second half.

A comeback was never on the cards, but the hosts should have reduced the deficit.

Caretaker boss Adie Mings back-heeled a low cross just wide, Martin Paul had two efforts saved and Charlie Griffin, another former Town man, was twice off target when well placed.

Scott Walker's dipping 20-yarder landed on top of the net and Davies' long-range effort was well over before Mings wasted the best chance late on, heading wide of the near post from two yards out.

Chippenham: Hervin, Edwards, Robertson, Redwood, Gould, Bailey, Walker, Horgan, Paul, Mings, Griffin. Subs: O'Halloran, Porter, Buttery, Davies.