MARK Collier admits it is getting harder to overlook Chippenham Town's considerable promotion credentials as their Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division season enters its final third.

Saturday's comfortable 3-0 win over Histon at Hardenhuish Park not only gave the Bluebirds a nine-point cushion inside the play-off zone, but Poole's draw at Merthyr left Collier's men just two points behind the leaders.

With 16 matches to play - and many of their rivals having games in hand - Collier is maintaining his long-held stance that a lot can still change on the run-in to the campaign's conclusion.

But after watching his side smash 15 goals in their past four league games, the manager concedes it is hard to ignore that there is the opportunity to at least match their play-off final appearance of 2009-10.

"We keep saying to the lads that there are 16 games to go and that they have just got to keep playing and keeping winning football matches,'' said Collier.

"It's going to come down to who can hold their nerve, but it's better than fighting relegation.

"There is still three months' worth of football to be played and a lot can happen, but we have got to be happy with where we are.

"We had a little dip earlier in the season, but we came back well and now we just have to keep our feet on the ground.''

He added: "Our away form has been very good and we have been scoring goals and our defence has always been quite sound.

"We know that when we are not playing well we are still capable of picking up at least draws.''

Two goals from Andy Sandell and James Guthrie's effort straight from a corner were more than enough to see off their relegation-threatened visitors from Cambridgeshire.

Collier added: "We weren't that pleased with the way we played up until half time.

"We were a bit slow in possession and it was all a bit laborious.

"But in the second half we moved the ball around a lot quicker and I don't think Kent Kauppinen (goalkeeper) had a save to make for us.''

Chippenham go to relegation-threatened Paulton Rovers on Tuesday evening, with Luke Ballinger (calf) set to miss out, although Conor McCormack and Scott Bevans should be available.

Collier added: "There is no point denying it. We will go there as the favourites but they (Paulton) haven't lost in their last four games and it's a local derby, so it will be a tough one.''