Chippenham Town are into the last four of the Red Insure Cup after a comfortable victory at Taunton Town earlier tonight.

Adie Mings’ side secured their progress with a clinical first-half display but it was their Zamaretto League Division One South & West opponents who created the first chance of the match but striker Rodney Marsh missed his queue as he failed to connect with a ball played over his shoulder.

In the 23rd minute, the Bluebirds were ahead when full-back Shaun Lamb arrived unmarked in the six-yard box to glance home a header from James Guthrie’s corner.

Taunton winger Darren Rice had a great chance to level the scores soon afterwards but he sliced his shot wide after picking up the ball at the far post.

In the 38th minute, Chippenham netted their second goal of the game from only their second effort on goal.

After a driving run, Scott Lye saw a shot blocked in the box before he retained possession and laid the ball off to Guthrie.

The Bluebirds winger whipped a ball into the area, which was missed by the home defenders before falling at the feet of Alan Griffin, who was left with an easy finish to make it 2-0.

Early in the second-half, Chippenham somehow failed to net a third as they struck the woodwork twice in quick succession.

Striker Lewis Powell brought a good save from keeper Connor Sidley-Adams at close range before striking a second effort which crashed against the underside of the bar.

The ball fell to Sam Allison, who has vowed to grow a moustache until he finds the net in 2011, but the Bluebirds winger won’t be reaching for the razor just yet as he smashed a shot onto the crossbar again, with the goal at his mercy.

With the majority of their hard work done in the first-half, Mings’ side concentrated on solidity at the back but they went close to another goal midway through the half when Griffin fired the ball across the face of goal but neither Powell nor Allison could tap home at the far post.

Taunton did threaten multiple times in the final ten minutes with substitute Alexis Piper bringing a smart save from Chris Snoddy with a curling free-kick.

Fellow sub Ross McNab also tested the Chippenham keeper before the final chance of the game fell to striker Griffin, who headed just over the bar from Jack McKenna’s free-kick.

Mings’ men could face Cambridge City, who beat Slough Town, Hednesford Town, who got the better of Stourbridge, or Hemel Hampstead Town, who beat Sholing on penalties, in the semi-finals.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chris Snoddy, James Martin, Shaun Lamb, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Greg Tindle, Scott Lye, Sam Allison, Lewis Powell, Alan Griffin, James Guthrie (Jack McKenna 78).

Subs not used: Alex Kite, Nathan Rudge, Iain Harvey, Ollie Webb.

Attendance: 166