MARK Collier insists a point is not to be sniffed at after his Premier Division table-toppers Chippenham Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home by St Neots Town on Saturday.

James Guthrie fired the Bluebirds ahead after only 10 minutes at Hardenhuish Park, only for the hosts to be pegged back in the closing stages when Nathan Frater found the net.

However, due to the physical nature of the St Neots side, Collier reckons a draw is not a bad result at all.

“I think there were 13 minutes left when they scored as there was quite a lot of stoppage time but when you do get into that last quarter-of-an-hour, you’re hopeful you are going to hold on,” said Collier.

“But they are very big and very physical and spend a lot of time on set-pieces and have got a lad who can throw it into the six-yard box for fun.

“They must have had six or seven lads over six foot two or six foot three, and that’s always difficult to cope with.

“I wanted to see if we have got it in our mindset to cope with a team that are very physical and very direct and I thought we were outstanding in that regard, so it augers well for the future.

“Given the physicality they had about them, come the end of the season it will prove to be quite a big point. I’d expect them to be in the top three or four with what they have got financially and the players they have on board.

“We now go into FA Cup week top of the league, having only lost one game. We’ve played St Neots, Poole and Hungerford, three of the big clubs in the division, and we’ve come out of it in a competitive state.

“If we’d said that on August 8, I think everyone would have taken it. We’ve come through it with flying colours and I am chuffed to bits.”

Chippenham were again forced to do without the services of striker Andy Sandell, who has made a flying start to his Bluebirds career.

It could have been a different story had they been able to include him in their line-up but Collier says there is no need to rush him back from injury.

“We got into the lead quite early and in the second half we just needed to get that second goal,” said Collier.

“We had a couple of decent half-chances and were a little unlucky on a couple as their keeper made a number of good saves.

“When the league’s top goalscorer isn’t playing it’s certainly going to have an effect as he can produce that bit of magic that gets you the extra points.

“I still think Andy is maybe 10 days away and we are not going to risk him.”