CHIPPENHAM Town boss Mark Collier knew it was important to not lose ground to play-off rivals Hitchin Town as they shared a 1-1 draw at Hardenhuish Park.

The Bluebirds, who headed into the game in second place in Southern League Premier Division, took a deserved lead when Alex Ferguson turned home a goalmouth scramble in first-half stoppage time.

However, third-placed Hitchin came out stronger in the second half and equalised from the penalty spot when a cross into the box was deemed to be handled by Greg Tindle.

With Redditch United winning 5-0 away to Paulton Rovers, both sides fell a place, with three teams now on 65 points behind Poole Town at the summit, and Collier says it could be an important point.

“In the bigger scheme of things, it is a hard-earned point,” he said.

“Second against third was always going to be a tight and competitive game.

“I thought we were excellent in the first half and we had the lion's share of possession and created some decent chances, and looked a real threat going forward.

“We scored just on half-time and the second half; they reversed the roles.

“They came at us quite strongly, as you would expect a team in their league position, and got quite a fortuitous penalty, that they stuck away.

“The game could have gone either way in the last 15 minutes but I think overall, both managers would have been happy with a draw.

“It was important for both teams not to lose the game, in all fairness, and when you get back in the clubhouse and look at some of the results, then it might have been a good point.”

Chippenham handed a full debut to new signing Leigh Henry and, with Andy Sandell going off with a recurrence of his hamstring injury, Collier knows strength in depth could be key in the run-in.

“Leigh Henry made his debut and he will bring experience and has got size and presence, and is a good signing for us,” he said, as they prepare to host Chesham United on Tuesday night.

“We only really had the two outright centre backs and he is a good right-sided centre-half and can play at left-sided centre-half and full-back, and it makes sure we have all avenues covered for the run-in.

“The problem playing Chesham is they are safe from relegation and they are not going to be promoted and they can play with a free spirit, and the pressure is on us to get the points.”