HOT-SHOT striker Steve Tweddle scored the winner as Chippenham Town moved into a Dr Martens League Western Division promotion spot with victory at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday.

Half-time substitute Tweddle, making a welcome return to league action after five weeks out with a foot injury, took just 21 minutes to make his mark when he capitalised on a defensive mistake to fire Chippenham in front for the second time.

Earlier, Bedworth striker Adam Webster had cancelled out a fine individual effort from James Bent.

The hosts' victory was marred in the final minute when left winger Steve Brown was dismissed along with visiting defender Jamie Richardson following a skirmish.

Tweddle, who scored 50 times to help the Bluebirds win promotion from the Screwfix Direct League last term, was delighted to be back among the goals after spending a frustrating October on the sidelines.

He said: "I was really pleased. To get the winner was great and I had two more opportunities and was a bit tired to finish them. I probably should have squared them.

"The last time I stepped off the bench I was disappointed when I got sent off at St Blazey. I certainly didn't want any repeat of that and I'm glad I got the winner at home rather than away.

"It has been frustrating, but I could have carried on with a broken foot and been out longer. I had to do it and I've proved I'm still scoring goals at this level. That's six league goals in seven games for me, so I'm quite happy."

Bluebirds boss Tommy Saunders made a number of changes to the side beaten 4-1 by Walton and Hersham in the FA Trophy.

Bent returned alongside Matt Rawlins up front, while former Weston-super-Mare duo Andy Catley and Dave Mogg made their league debuts for the club. Simon Charity was moved to right back, but there was no place in the squad for Lee Vickerman or Adie Mings.

The home side, knowing victory could take them to the top of the Western Division for the first time, made a fantastic start when Bent put them in front on five minutes.

The striker, who last week signed on loan from Yeovil Town for a further month, collected the ball on the right hand side of the box, danced past the challenges of Martin Crowley and Ashley Pringle and despatched a clinical left footed finish into the bottom left corner of the net.

Bedworth, unbeaten in ten outings on the road before Saturday's clash, rallied well and the lively Chris Partridge was twice foiled by the alert Mogg as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.

They were on terms just past the half hour mark when Crowley's cross from the left created havoc in the home defence and Bedworth top scorer Drewitt capitalised on a mix-up between Shane Andrews and Mogg to force the ball home from close range.

The goal sparked a period of pressure from the visitors and Chippenham might have fallen behind in the 35th minute when Mogg spilled another dangerous Crowley cross, but visiting player-manager Ian Drewitt blazed over from 20 yards with the goal at his mercy.

Saunders introduced Tweddle for the ineffective Catley at half time, but the striker almost gifted Bedworth the lead with a stray pass four minutes after the restart.

Partridge pounded on Tweddle's mistake and outpaced Nathan Rudge before the defender was adjudged to have unfairly blocked his path to goal. Rudge looked fortunate to escape with a caution and Guy Sanders wasted the resulting free kick.

Chippenham thought they had gone in front just moments later when Andrews poked the ball goalwards following a scramble, but the ball was adjudged not to have crossed the line before Scope pushed it to safety.

Rawlins came within the width of an upright of restoring Chippenham's lead when his header from a Mark Harrington cross beat Scope but came back of the inside of his right post.

But the home side were not to be denied and finally took the lead two minutes later. Pringle miskicked following an Andrews header forward and the ball fell into the path of the predatory Tweddle who made no mistake from 14 yards.

Mogg was forced to make two smart stops late on to deny Drewitt as Bedworth went in search of another equaliser, before Brown and Richardson saw red for their late altercation.

Tweddle squandered two late chances to put the outcome beyond doubt, but the home side held on for the win that stretches their uneaten league run to four matches.

Bluebirds assistant manager Colin Bush was pleased to come away from a tough encounter with maximum points.

He said: "I felt in the first half they were by far the better footballing side. It was a clash of a couple of systems really.

"We got a great start from Bent but then they played exceptionally well. We were disappointed with the goal we conceded but turned around at one-one.

"Woodsy and Harrington were superb with their tackling in the middle of the park in the second half and the introduction of Tweddle gave us lots of energy up front. Like Tweddle is, he got his just reward with the goal.

"They were quite a flair side and had some quality players. We are more than happy with the result and happy that our dogged system came out on top again."