Chippenham Town’s faint hopes of making the Zamaretto League Premier Division play-offs look to be over after they suffered a heartbreaking defeat at Stourbridge earlier today.

Ryan Rowe tapped home the only goal of the game in the 89th minute to hand the Bluebirds only their sixth loss of the season but effectively kill off their play-off push.

Just four minutes in, a bizarre bounce put Sam Allison in the clear but Stourbridge defender Aaron Griffiths did well to recover and clear for a corner before shortly afterwards, keeper Lewis Solly almost let Ryan Mahon’s passback slip past him and into his own net.

Striker Justin Nisbett rose to head a corner back across the area and a deflection off Alan Griffin meant that Ryan O’Hara was forced to head off the line.

Rowe shot wide after being put through on goal and shortly afterwards, Griffiths exchanged passes with Sam Rock before drawing a smart save from Chippenham keeper Chris Snoddy.

Greg Tindle’s wayward header was the Bluebirds' best chance in the first-half and the home crowd was left dumbfounded as Nisbett squandered the chance to put Stourbridge ahead in the 58th minute.

Striker Rowe played in Ben Billingham down the right-hand side and the midfielder drew Snoddy out of his goal before squaring to Nisbett.

However, the Glassboys frontman got the ball stuck under his feet and wasn’t able to finish, despite having an open goal to aim at.

Despite the majority of the clear cut chances falling to the home side, the match was a largely even affair, although Tindle had to be vigilant to clear substitute Aaron Drake’s volley off the line with around 15 minutes to go.

However, the Bluebirds came into their own in the final stages, with Griffin robbing a Stourbridge defender before hitting a low right-footed effort towards goal.

Keeper Solly got down in time to get a hand to the ball and watch it trickle the wrong side of the left-hand upright.

Shortly afterwards, O’Hara lofted a cross onto the head of Griffin but his effort flew wide.

Midfielder Luke Gullick then created another great chance for the Bluebirds when he ghosted past his marker but his shot was straight at Solly.

Then, in the 89th minute, O’Hara was caught in possession by Rock, who released substitute Drew Canavan down the right-hand side.

Snoddy was left with no choice but to come out of his goal and the Stourbridge midfielder squared the ball to Rowe, who slotted into the empty net to steal all three points for the hosts and break Chippenham hearts.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Chris Snoddy, James Guthrie, Shaun Lamb, Ashley Williams, Steve Casey, Greg Tindle, Scott Lye, Luke Gullick, Ryan O’Hara, Alan Griffin, Sam Allison (Toby Osman 66).

Subs not used: Lewis Powell, James Martin, Iain Harvey, Alex Kite.