CHIPPENHAM boss Tommy Saunders blasted defenders Wayne Thorne and Tom Gould for the blunders that cost his side three points.

The pair have been mainstays of the Premier Division's third best defensive units this season, but were both caught out on the stroke of half time as the visitors opened up a two-goal lead.

Saunders was far from happy afterwards and felt the pair had left his side with a mountain to climb in the second half.

He said: "It was schoolboy errors. The first one from Wayne Thorne, I don't think a Sunday morning side would defend like that.

"All he had to do was attack the ball before it bounced, but he has tried to be clever and let it bounce and totally misjudged it. That gave their lad a chip over a stranded goalkeeper.

"The ball should be leaving the ground. That is how you are supposed to defend when you have your back to goal.

"It was a shambles. It isn't the first time Wayne has made a mistake here, either. I look back to the Moor Green game and the sending off against Grantham. I'm fed up of making excuses for him. I've told him, in my opinion, he has cost us the three points on Saturday.

"The second one was a hopeful ball into the box. Tom Gould wasn't strong enough and their lad has had a tap-in."

Saunders admitted he is growing concerned with the lack of goals from strike duo Martin Paul and Adie Mings. He said: "In the second half we have dominated and played really, really well but I don't think my strikers can buy a goal at the moment.

"Adie Mings has playing so well until it comes to getting a goal. He has missed a sitter after four minutes and fluffed another great chance after we took a quick throw-in in the second half. If my strikers aren't scoring goals, which clearly they aren't, then I have got to do something about it.

"Martin Paul is the top scorer in the league and doesn't even look like scoring a goal. Adie has been our best player since Christmas, but strikers have to score goals and he's not doing it."

Saunders wants to see a big improvement when his side travel to mid-table Moor Green on Saturday.

He said: "I've told the players I am very, very disappointed. If we're not careful, the last eight games will be a massive anti-climax and we'll finish fifth or sixth.

"They've had their kick up the backside and have got to respond in the right way on Saturday."