WITH all their closest rivals picking up three points either in midweek or on Saturday, this proved to be an invaluable win for the Bluebirds.

Chippenham were never at their best but their plans were affected after only quarter of an hour when Scott Walker limped out of the game a victim of two heavy tackles.

Steve White had already brought in Lee Davidson to the midfield berth occupied by hamstring victim Ben Kirk. Simon Charity came on for Walker to fill the unfamiliar left wing back role and it took the Bluebirds a while to settle.

Danny Bloomfield wasted a hat-trick of chances for the visitors in the first 45 minutes. He should have opened the scoring in the first minute when Gary Thorne's aerial clearance blew back to Darren Hay who played Bloomfield in behind the Chippenham defence. Mark Hervin dived superbly to tip away Bloomfield's shot.

On 26 minutes midfielder Robbie Harris, who tormented the Chippenham defence, presented Bloomfield with a chance on the edge of the area, but King's Lynn's leading scorer saw Hervin pull off a magnificent save.

Ten minutes later Bloomfield wriggled past Thorne but ballooned his effort over the bar.

In the brief raids Chippenham had been able to muster, Dave Gilroy had fired wide before Steve Wilson had done well to race off his line and snatch the ball off Gilroy's toes.

The match finally came to life on the hour mark. The large crowd who had braved the wintery conditions made the most of a four minute cameo as they jeered and cheered.

On 60 minutes, cue Allison. The Chippenham striker races across the face of the King's Lynn goal searching for a shooting opportunity. Exit Allison right, as he was forced away from goal, enter Lynn substitute Ludovic Quistin who unwisely challenged him.

Allison dramatically sprawls to the ground. Watching referee Kevin Pike signals no penalty. From the wings the assistant referee raises his flag.

Exit Bluebird players' stage right in direction of assistant referee quickly followed by the accompanying hoards of Linnets.

Cue mass brawl and fracas the groundlings in the crowd are straining to see a piece of the action.

After two minutes referee Pike restores order. A further two minutes interval elapses while the officials compare scripts. Mr Pike decides he must have picked up the wrong script and bravely alters his decision, awarding penalty to Chippenham.

Before the ball can be placed on the penalty spot referee Pike is so impressed by Lynn's Darren Hay and Gary Setchell's audition he shows them a yellow card each in recognition. Gary Thorne is spoken to by Mr Pike.

Ian Herring steps up and despatches the penalty with aplomb having previously rehearsed the scene when playing for Swindon Town against Leeds.

After such a show the players were unable to lift themselves to further action until the 83rd minute when King's Lynn substitute Chris Bacon shot wide in front of an open goal.

In the 89th minute Chippenham almost managed an encore when Gilroy appeared to be tripped but this time Mr Pike stuck to his decision.

Chippenham Mark Hervin, Rene Regis, Matthew McEntegart, Gary Thorne (cap), Ian Herring, Mark Badman, Ellis Wilmot, Lee Davidson (James Constable 79), Dave Gilroy, Sam Allison, Scott Walker (Simon Charity 15). Subs not used: Gary Horgan, Wayne Thorne, Chris Astley. Attendance 595.