DR MARTENS LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM Town moved another step closer to the Dr Martens League Premier Division after grinding out a victory at relegation-threatened Rocester on Tuesday evening.

The Bluebirds left it late before clinching their 21st league win of the season, which came courtesy of goals from Mark Harrington and Steve Tweddle inside the final 20 minutes.

The clash, postponed three times this season, saw Chippenham make their longest away journey of the season and they struggled to make an impact on a bone-hard surface in the opening 45 minutes.

Top goalscorer Matt Rawlins wasted the Bluebirds' best chance, shooting wide from a good position, while both Gareth Davies and Nathan Rudge came close with headers.

Davies picked up a thigh strain and was replaced at the break by Simon Charity, who slotted in at right back.

The home side, playing with unorthodox 3-4-3 formation, continued to frustrate their high-flying visitors in the second half and the Bluebirds seemed set to drop two valuable promotion points before Harrington gave them the lead on 70 minutes.

A Steve Brown corner was only half cleared to the edge of the area, and Harrington was on hand to volley into the corner of the Rocester net.

Nine minutes later and it was game over for the resilient hosts.

Substitute Adie Mings and Rawlins combined to send Tweddle racing through on goal, and the Bluebirds marksman made no mistake after rounding the keeper.

Chippenham assistant manager Colin Bush felt his side had done well to overcome battling Rocester.

He said: "That was a difficult game for us, but the players believed in their fitness and ground a result out. That was the sort of thing we did so well at the start of the season.

"The boys have got half an eye on promotion now. The thing was to keep their feet on the ground and get a professional result and I feel we did that.

"It certainly wasn't the prettiest of games, but we came through it. Rocester had every right to scrap. They would have been more than happy with a 0-0 and the onus was on us to win the game."

The assistant boss felt his side had struggled to come to terms with a dry playing surface in the first half.

Said Bush: "The pitches are starting to alter now they are drying out a bit, so it is more important than ever for players to get their first touch right.

"That was one of the areas we struggled in during the first half.

"But I couldn't fault them for effort. They were hyped up for the game and it was just a case of getting them to channel it in the right way in the second half."

Bush was delighted to see midfielder Harrington score only his second goal for the club in the vital victory.

He said: "We've been encouraging Harry to shoot more from those sort of positions. The ball came to him, it wasn't his best shot, but it went in and was an important goal for us.

"He should get more goals. It was nice to see him on the scoresheet."

Harrington's fellow goalscorer Tweddle was pleased to notch the clinching second goal, which brought his tally for the season to 18.

He said: "That's two in three games for me now and it looks like the old scoring touch is coming back.

"It was a long way for us to go on a Tuesday and it was really hard work. Rocester are fighting for their lives and battled hard, but we bided our time and the goals came for us.

"It certainly wasn't the best performance we have put in this season, but we got a result. That's all that matters at this stage of the season."