THE Bluebirds were given a thorough workout by the physical visitors from Cambridge who were indebted to a late equaliser from Nathan Frater - fortunate to be still on the pitch after receiving a final warning from referee Jonathan Hollier.

In the corresponding Premier Division match last season Frater escaped with only a yellow card after a head butt on Jon Beeden. This time his over-physical approach earned him a 17th-minute booking when he fouled Kent Kauppinen as the Chippenham keeper cleared the ball.

Frater sailed close to the wind on several occasions as the lenient official finally pointed a threatening finger to the dressing rooms for yet another foul.

Frater was also involved in the turning point of the match as he landed on Greg Tindle in the area on 72 minutes, the Bluebirds skipper had minutes earlier been sent flying into a perimeter wall by a visiting player and this time lay injured for six minutes until being helped off with a back injury.

As often happens on these occasions a break by the visitors seven minutes from time saw fellow centre back Mark Preece unable to get back from a Chippenham corner and a left wing cross was ironically headed home by Frater.

Chippenham had taken the lead on 10 minutes through James Guthrie who tapped home from close range for his first goal of the season after St Neots failed to deal with a Michael Pook corner.

The goal came after the away side had been fastest out of the blocks and a first-minute shot from Connor Hall had been kicked off the line. Guthrie almost doubled the lead on 17 minutes when his flick over keeper Daniel Gay went just over the bar.

Chippenham were also unfortunate not to earn a penalty when Chris Allen raced into the area only to have his legs whipped from under him.

After the break both sides took turns to dominate as Tindle's header was deflected wide and Daniel Gay rushed out to block a shot from Holgate. Alex Ferguson was also unfortunate to side foot a pass from Matt Smith over the bar.

At the other end Frater headed substitute Guy Mailancol's cross against a post from close in. New boy Ollie Taylor came on for the last quarter of an hour and saw a back header held by Gay.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time Smith's cross was headed back by substitute Ryan Campbell and Holgate's flick landed on the top of the net.

Chippenham: Kauppinen, Ballinger, Jones (Taylor 78), Pook, Tindle (McCormack 78), Preece, Ferguson (Campbell 88), Smith, Holgate, Allen, Guthrie subs not used: Bevan, Phillips.

Referee: Jonathan Hollier.

Attendance: 382