A MAKESHIFT Bluebirds side comfortably overcame a near-strength Larkhall as they cruised into the next round of the Red Insure cup.

The Bluebirds made 10 changes from Saturday with several Chippenham Park players stepping up.

One of those, Alione Diouf, gave the home side a 34th-minute lead when he headed home a cross from Matt Jones.

The Bluebirds should have already been in front by then as Oli Taylor spurned a one on one chance after seven minutes.

Eleven minutes later the ball fell kindly to Luke Ballinger but, from within the six yard box and with only keeper Kyle Phillips to beat, he spooned his shot over the bar.

A further golden chance went begging in the final minute of the half when Diouf's cross picked out Jones but from three yards out he failed to control the ball and lobbed over.

For their part in the opening half Larkhall were restricted to long-range efforts with former Bluebird Dean Griffiths lifting his shot straight at Josh Lax, whilst efforts from Jamie Lyons and Jack Camm went wide.

Chippenham doubled their advantage five minutes after the break when Taylor was brought down in the area and Ballinger gave Phillips no chance from the resultant penalty.

Lax did well to parry away Lyons's 63rd-minute shot but four minutes later the Bath side halved the arrears as Camm tapped home from close range.

Regular keeper Kent Kauppinen came on for a cameo role up front for the final quarter of an hour.

Taylor thumped home the third nine minutes from time and three minutes later Conor McCormack got on the scoresheet with a fine 25-yard drive.

Ballinger almost made it nap five minutes from time but he was thwarted by a good save from Phillips.

Chippenham: Lax, Norman J, Bevan, McCormack, Norman C, Beeden, Ballinger, Diouf (Campbell 74), Taylor, Pringles (Kauppinen 78), Jones.

Sub not used: Matt Smith

Referee: Robert Dabbs.

Assistant referees: Neil Wilcox, John Graham.

Attendance: 182