DR MARTENS LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM Town underlined their Dr Martens League Western Division promotion credentials with a stunning display at Evesham United's Common Road home on Saturday.

Top scorer Matt Rawlins and Steve Tweddle both scored twice for the rampant Bluebirds as they gained sweet revenge for their 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Evesham at Hardenhuish on September 22.

James Bent netted his ninth goal in a Chippenham shirt to celebrate signing on loan from Yeovil Town for another month and a rare John Woods effort completed the rout in the final minute.

Bluebirds manager Tommy Saunders felt the performance was the best he had witnessed by any Chippenham side since taking charge in 1998.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the way we are playing. Saturday perhaps wasn't as important a result as the FA Vase games against Bedlington and Vauxhall, but it was by far the best performance.

"They are one of the favourites for the league but I felt we made them look a terrible side in the end.

"I think they've gone backwards slightly since we last played them, but we were absolutely magnificent.

"We've now conceded the second least number of goals in the division and are the top scorers, yet people tell me we don't play enough football."

Saunders was without assistant Colin Bush, who was attending a family wedding, for only the second time in their eight years as a management duo.

He said: "I was a bit nervous going there on two fronts. One, because they'd beaten us before and, two, because I was without Nobby.

"We are a good partnership and I missed him on the way up and on the way back. I was especially pleased for him because perhaps now he'll feel less guilty about missing it."

The manager also praised the 100 Bluebirds fans who had made the trip to Worcestershire.

Said Saunders: "There was a brilliant turnout considering it was only three weeks before Christmas and cost them £6 just to get in.

"Without the supporters, we'd be wasting our time and to see the smiles on their faces in the clubhouse afterwards shows we are doing them a good service."

Goalkeeper Steve Weaver, who was making his debut, made two smart early saves before Chippenham opened the floodgates on 28 minutes.

Rawlins' progress was stopped by a Mark Clifton tackle, but skipper Tweddle was on hand to fire past Danny Watson to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Former Arsenal youngster Rawlins continued his fine goalscoring run 10 minutes before the interval when he scored following a strong run by midfielder Simon Charity.

Two further goals in five minutes at the start of the second half put the outcome beyond doubt. Tweddle bundled the ball home after his initial spot kick had been saved by Watson in the 47th minute, then Bent capitalised on a poor kick from the home goalkeeper.

Weaver saved a 63rd minute Steve McCartain penalty before Rawlins netted his second after good work by Bent.

But the visitors saved the best goal for last. Adie Mings' sublime backheel fell to Woods and the midfielder crashed the ball home to register his first goal in more than a year.

The victory kept Chippenham in second spot in the Western Division on a day when leaders Halesowen and third placed Clevedon also registered 6-0 victories.

Saunders has set a target of six points from Chippenham's next three games. They face Cirencester United at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday, before the crunch trip to Halesowen on December 22.

Said Saunders: "The next three will be very, very tough. Cirencester are a side I rate very highly and beat Solihull 4-1 on Saturday. They have also beaten Weston and Clevedon this season. The Halesowen game everybody knows about and then we have got Supermarine at home on Boxing Day. They are looking a different team since John Murphy took over there."