SWINDON slipped to third from bottom in the table after being handed a heavy eight-wicket defeat at home by local rivals Chippenham.

Andrew Staff’s season had enjoyed some strong early-season form but Saturday’s loss was their third in the last four games, form that has seen them slide down the standings.

Although relegation should not be an issue as Swindon have a sizeable 43-point cushion on the drop zone, Staff and his troops will be keen to finish the season as strongly as possible over the final four games.

Swindon were in trouble from the off at the County Ground as Chippenham skipper Lee Ward (4-27) had the top of the order in disarray.

Opener Paul Paginton fell for a duck, as did fellow top-five batsmen Alex Kill and Liam Tucker, as the hosts slumped to 39-4.

Jonathan Sore (28) and Will Nichols were the only Swindon players to come out of the innings with much credit as they were at least able to see the home side past the 100 mark.

Tom Young also chipped in with 3-23 for Chippenham as the Swindon innings eventually came to a close on 114, with a hefty 22 of those coming in the form of extras.

Nichols gave Swindon brief hope that they might make a game of it when opener Young was dismissed with just 20 on the board in Chippenham’s reply but Darryl Losper (50*) and Arran Merryweather (37) swiftly took the game away from them.

Dean Williamson was able to pick up another wicket, but the visitors stormed past the winning line in the 17th over, finishing on 118-2.