MARK Collier was caught unawares by Chippenham Town’s flimsy display against Hitchin Town on Saturday.

The Bluebirds slipped to defeat at home for the first time this year as they were beaten 3-2 by Hitchin Town, with their usual defensive solidarity absent as an unfortunate Kent Kauppinen own goal and two strikes from the visitors’ Saul Peacock downed Collier’s men.

Michael Pook had levelled things up at 1-1 midway through the first half and Alex Ferguson pounced to reduce the deficit late on but manager Collier thought that his team were simply too porous at the back to warrant any reward from the clash.

“My defenders haven’t become bad players overnight but if you concede three goals in a game in our division, you’re not going to get anything,” said the Chippenham chief, who fielded an attack-minded line-up that saw Jack Odam playing in behind Ashan Holgate and the returning Charlie Griffin.

“The back four and goalkeeper have had their plaudits for the way they’ve defended this season but we were at sixes and sevens on Saturday.

“Hitchin had a very good striker that they supported well, and they deserve credit for that, but we were just undone too easily at the back.

“I didn’t see that coming and I don’t think the players did. We had seven or eight that performed well below what we expect and they know that.

“We still created some good chances and our play going forward was quite good. Michael Pook scored a great goal and Charlie Griffin had a few chances, which I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with.

“But we’re just getting him up to match speed. We know that he’ll take chances when they fall to him.”

Luke Ballinger was missing from the Chippenham squad due to his England futsal commitments.

Collier added: “We need to bounce back next weekend now. But it’s going to be difficult because we’re going to Banbury and they’re fighting for their lives.”