Lea clips the 'birds wings

New Supermarine defender James a member of the Bluebirds' 2000 Wembley side headed a second-half equaliser that secured John Murphy's men a surprise 1-1 draw at Hardenhuish Park.

Marine manager Murphy was understandably delighted, but his counterpart Tommy Saunders was fuming with his players,

Town produced quite literally a hungover performance, leaving Saunders to accuse certain members of his squad of succumbing to the Christmas festivities all to readily.

The Bluebirds boss said: "Full marks to Supermarine, they made it very difficult for us, but I am not very happy with the way we played.

"It's the holiday season that we are going to get found out.

"Not because we are playing so many games, but because one or two of my lads like going out too often, and a few of them looked like they had been drinking quite heavily over the last two or three days.

"They know who they are, and they were a disgrace.''

Marine though, were full of spirit of a different kind. Murphy's boys produced a wonderfully tenacious performance, and were good value for a point.

The Hunts Copse outfit belied their rock-bottom status, and really rattled the side backed by many to secure the Western Division title.

While the much fancied hosts were still suffering the after effects of the festive binging, Marine came out flying.

The visitors forced a succession of early corners, and front two Pete Macklin and Tate Hulbert both had good chances to silence a near 900-strong Chippenham contingent.

First Hulbert was denied from close range by alert keeping from Steve Weaver, then Macklin worked himself a great opening on the edge of the box before firing wide.

Skipper Steve Bennett also squandered a good opening as Marine rocked the title chasers.

This wasn't in the script, and a shock looked in the offing.

But even when Town are below par, they still have the quality up front to sting the opposition.

With 26 minutes on the clock they snatched the lead against the run of play.

Chippenham striker James Bent latched on to a John Woods through ball, shrugged of a challenge, and planted the ball beyond new on-loan Cheltenham keeper Stephen Benbow.

With the early nerves settled, Chippenham had regained the ascendancy.

Bluebirds' winger Steve Brown and striker Steve Tweddle were starting to cause problems, and Brown twice went close to scoring within two minutes of the second period.

First, his right-foot drive from range dipped over, then he ran into the box and chose to shoot straight at Benbow rather than square to an unmarked Tweddle.

Such wastefulness was destined to be punished, and on 48 minutes Hulbert whipped in a right-wing cross, Town's defence failed to clear their lines, and former Bluebirds' favourite James was on hand at the back post to head a deserved leveller.

What followed, was a barrage of Chippenham pressure, but Saunders' side struggled to forge any clear-cut openings.

Bent and Grantley Dicks both went close from range, and Marine escaped a couple of half-hearted penalty appeals, but when the final whistle sounded, nobody could deny that Murphy's jubilant troops were well worth the draw.

Murphy has now seen his side lose just once in six league outing since taking over in November.

"We were pleased with the point,'' said the Marine boss.

"I always felt that we would be competitive. We worked hard and the spirit was good.

"Make no mistake, Chippenham are a quality side, and we were apprehensive, but a number of players proved to themselves that they can play at this level today.

"It would be easy to say that Chippenham didn't play particularly well.

"We worked hard and deserved a point. It was more a case of us working to put Chippenham off their game, than them being poor.''

The gap at the bottom is now just four points, and Marine have two games in hand.

If Murphy's men can continue to produce performances of this level, their Dr Martens' status is starting to look secure.

Cirencester's match against Cinderford was called off because of a frozen pitch.