IT was a disappointing end to the season for the Bluebirds, who failed to take advantage after their opponents were reduced to ten men before the interval.

Jack Odam’s debut goal just before the hour mark was cancelled out twelve minutes from time by Stuart Downing, who had threatened the Bluebird goal several times during the afternoon.

The match started promisingly for the Bluebirds with Charlie Griffin heading over the bar in the opening minute, whilst at the other end Downing headed wide on nine minutes and then on twenty two minutes he shot across the face of goal.

Before the half hour mark Griffin saw a shot blocked whilst James Guthrie fired wide. The Bluebirds lost hamstring victim Mark Preece just after the half an hour mark. That saw Jon Beeden move from left back to the centre of defence with Guthrie dropping back to defence and Lee Phillips coming on up front.

Five minutes before the interval a fracas broke out after a foul by Michael Pook. When the dust had settled Pook was shown a yellow card and Bideford skipper Richard Groves a straight red.

After the break Conor McCormack’s ball into the box was deflected by Dan Harrison and into the grateful arms of his keeper Steve Oliver. Downing then threatened from a 53rd minute corner that saw Kent Kauppinen save his headed effort.

Chippenham opened the scoring on fifty eight minutes when he volleyed home a ball from the left finally gave the massed ranks of the visiting Norwegian branch of the Chippenham Town supporters’ club something to cheer. Shortly afterwards Griffin’s shot hit the diving Oliver’s chin as it bounced on the rock-hard surface.

On 69 minutes a swirling effort from McCormack went just wide, whilst Phillips laid the ball back to Griffin who volleyed over. Bideford equalized on seventy eight minutes when Downing headed home from a corner.

Chippenham had to more efforts to finish the season with a win but Phillips’ header was deflected for a corner and McCormack’s shot was also deflected wide.

Chippenham: Kauppinen, McCormack, Beeden, Coupe, Odam (Norman 84), Preece (Phillips 31), Ferguson, Pook, Griffin, Holgate, Guthrie

Subs not used: Harvey, Clarke, Tindle

Ref: Richard Gardner – Worcester

Att: 408