CHIPPENHAM Town were left to rue letting a 3-1 lead slip as they shared the spoils with fellow high-flyers Slough Town last night.

The scoreline was a repeat of last season's match at Hardenhuish Park but this game was the most exciting to date this season for home fans, however Mark Collier's men were also made to regret failing to fully test goalkeeper Mark Scott, who was injured in the first half.

Scott, who played on loan for the Bluebirds when he was at Swindon Town, saved his side three times in the opening ten minutes.

He blocked Dave Pratt's second minute shot with his feet and two minutes later, pulled off a flying save to deny Andy Sandell.

On nine minutes. Sandell found Pratt but again, Scott was off his line to block the effort.

However, Chippenham did take the lead on 12 minutes when a long ball found Sandell and he held off two chasing defenders before rounding Scott to slide the ball home.

On 27 minutes, it was Darren Chitty's turn to shine as the home keeper first blocked a near-post shot before a follow-up effort brought an acrobatic save.

Slough equalised five minutes after the interval when Guy Hollis' shot appeared to take a deflection off a home defender but five minutes later, the Bluebirds were back in front when a free-kick from near the touch-line from James Guthrie went all the way through and rolled into the far corner.

On 63 minutes, Chippenham were awarded a penalty for a push at a corner and Sandell sent Scott the wrong way to give the home side a 3-1 lead.

But Simon Dunn - another former Bluebirds man - pulled a goal back with another deflected effort that appeared to wrong-foot Chitty and 10 minutes from time, the Rebels were awarded a penalty of their own for holding in the area.

However, goalie Chitty pulled off a superb save from Charlie Moone's spot-kick.

But there was to be a late sting in the tail and with a minute of normal time to go, a long throw saw Moone make amends when he bundled home the equaliser.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Darren Chitty, Dan Bowman, Jon Beeden, Michael Pook, Greg Tindle, Will Richards, Alex Ferguson, Matt Smith, David Pratt, Andy Sandell, James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Mario Mateus, Gary Horgan, Matt Jones, James Rae.

Referee: Stephen Oakley

Attendance: 328