LIAM Bull admitted the last thing he expected to happen on Saturday 8 March was to be collecting the sponsors' man of the match award at 5pm.

The former Swindon Supermarine goalkeeper was thrust into the action as a second minute substitute following James Bittner's shoulder injury, and was at fault as Stafford took an 11th minute lead.

But Bull recovered his composure and his second half performance was enough to convince matchday sponsors Wavin Plastics to award him the man of the match champagne.

He said: "I think they've had one too many in the sponsors lounge, that's what it is. But I am delighted, especially with it being my first game. I don't think I did anything extra special. I just did what I was there to do and did it as well as I could."

His season has been disrupted by a knee injury and his last appearance was for Screwfix Direct League side Devizes Town in January. He admitted the nature and timing of Bittner's injury had made for a difficult start to his first outing.

Said Bull: "I heard a shout in the changing room saying Bitts was down and everything was up in the air after that. It was a bit bizarre. Coming on as a keeper isn't the easiest of things to do, but coming on after two minutes makes it particularly hard. It was my first game in about eight weeks and I'm still trying to get my match fitness back."

Stafford's opening goal came as a result of Bull's decision to punch rather than catch Robin Gibson's corner. He said: "I don't know what happened but I've made an honest mistake.But, as a goalkeeper, you have got to get on with it and hopefully I have done. Stafford brought a lot of support with them and were giving me a bit of stick from behind the goal straight away, which you would expect."

Despite a powerful performance from the visitors, Chippenham created the clearer chances and Bull was not to win the game. He said: "We needed three points, but it was a fair result in the end."

Bull travels to Florida in May to begin a football scholarship and is happy to fill the role of Bittner's understudy until then. He said: "Since last season I have had nothing but niggling injuries. Every game I play is good for me and I will take every game as it comes."