NATHAN Rudge had even more reason to squirm in his seat than most as his Chippenham Town side suffered an embarrassing defeat to Bideford at Hardenhuish Park yesterday.

The Bluebirds boss was serving the first of a two-game touchline ban, which he has only just been slapped with in the wake of last November's goalless draw at Barwell.

Rudge was accused of being involved in handbags between the two sets of players following the game in Leicestershire and will be forced to watch from the stand again next Tuesday evening when Hemel Hempstead Town visit Chippenham (kick-off 7.45pm).

Saturday afternoon did not make for pleasant viewing as the Bluebirds were decimated by their Devon visitors, who led 3-0 at half-time before netting four in the second period, with Town midfielder Adie Harris seeing red for two bookings.

Alex Kite was missing at the back for Chippenham with the ankle injury he picked up against Banbury United earlier this month while James Guthrie returned to the bench but wasn't fit enough to be involved against Bideford.

The Bluebirds are down to 16th in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division while Tuesday's title-chasing visitors Hemel, suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to mid-table Chesham United yesterday.

FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM TUESDAY'S CLASH WITH HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN, FOLLOW @gazsport ON TWITTER. MORE CHIPPENHAM TOWN NEWS AND REACTION IN NEXT THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD.