CHIPPENHAM Town’s interest in the FA Trophy was ended at the second qualifying round as they were beaten by Leiston.

Jack Ainsley’s 77th-minute goal was enough for the Ryman League Premier Division side to progress - much to the displeasure of Bluebirds manager Mark Collier.

“I’m disappointed with the result, I’m always disappointed to lose. It was a tight and competitive game with two decent teams,” said the Chippenham boss.

“With a good side there is always a fine line between winning and losing and that is what happened on Saturday.

“I thought we were a little bit unfortunate to go in at half-time with it 0-0 but their keeper has made a couple of decent saves.

“They cleared a couple off the line as well so credit to them for that. If anyone was going to score in the first half it was us.

“The second half was a similar pattern, with good football being played by both sides but they scored a decent goal.

“It’s gone off the inside of the post, we then looked like we might go and get an equaliser but it wasn’t to be so we move on.”

Chippenham’s first chance came from David Pratt whose header was denied in the ninth minute, before Leiston’s only first-half effort was saved by James Rae, who was deputising for Darren Chitty.

In the second half the hosts continued to probe for the breakthrough and it nearly came when Pratt’s low drive was saved by James Marsden on the hour mark.

After falling behind the Bluebirds had chances to equalise, but Dan Bowman, Ryan Campbell and Alex Ferguson were all unable to find the target late on.

Dan Bowman was the first to miss when fired high on 80 minutes, before substitute Campbell did well to make room for himself in the box but he scuffed his eventual shot five minutes later.

With four minutes remaining Pratt then set up Ferguson but he couldn’t make the most of it as the ball skewed off the outside of his boot as it remained 1-0 to the visitors. Despite the defeat, Collier was happy with the performance against a stubborn Suffolk side.

“I was disappointed with the result, not the performance. Their goal wasn’t a chance they carved out - it was just a decent finish from 20 yards,” added Collier. “He’s bent it and it hit the far post, when that usually happens you can’t save it.

“The advantage for them was they came to play for a draw, with men behind the ball and one man up front to play on the counter.

“They travelled for four and a half hours so the incentive for them was not to lose in fairness and they got the all-important goal.”

Collier’s troops have the perfect chance to return to winning ways when he faces his former side Swindon Supermarine in the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night.