A POINT at a side boasting a good home record would probably have been acceptable before play, but after taking an early lead Chippenham spurned several good chances to double their advantage before allowing their hosts to grab an equaliser.

After that the game deteriorated as a spectacle, with Stratford's unpunished off-the-ball tactics increasingly frustrating the Bluebirds.

Chippenham made the ideal start just after the opening minute as new permanent signing Chris Allen launched the ball forward, forcing home keeper Andy Kemp to come out of his area to head the ball away under pressure from Andy Sandell.

The clearance only went as far as Ashan Holgate who hit the ball past the stranded keeper and into the net.

As Chippenham continued on the front foot Holgate laid the ball back to Sandell whose shot went wide. Sandell then found himself in the clear only to be halted by a great covering tackle from Aaron Stringfellow.

Stratford finally produced a chance on 29 minutes as Edwin Akenkorah's shot was deflected for a corner.

Sandell then found Matt Smith out wide and Holgate seemed destined to score from his pin-point cross but from a central position close in he hit his shot straight at Kemp.

Chippenham were then made to pay as Alex Ferguson's mis-timed tackle earned him a booking and from the resulting free kick Akenkorah equalised as the ball was flicked on to him.

On 39 minutes James Guthrie's corner saw Smith flick the ball onto the bar whilst at the other end Rob Thompson-Brown and Aaron Moses-Garvey both wasted opportunities.

The second half saw play deteriorate although Allen shot straight at Kemp and Guthrie fired wide.

At one of a dozen or so corners Stratford centre back Liam Francis miss hit a shot to Kent Kauppinen whilst Smith blazed over for the Bluebirds.

Half chances continued to fall to both sides as Scott Bevan fired wide for Chippenham and Akenkorah forced Kauppinen into a near post save.

The best chance of the half fell to Oli Taylor on 88 minutes as he headed narrowly off target from fellow substitute Ryan Campbell's cross.

There was still time for Jon Beeden to head over and Sandell to fire across the face of goal as the Bluebirds had to settle for a point.

Chippenham: Kauppinen, McCormack, Bevan, Allen, Tindle, Beeden, Ferguson (Campbell 56), Smith, Holgate, Sandell, Guthrie (Taylor 69).

Subs not used: Jones, Harvey, Norman.

Referee: Lee Forrester.

Attendance: 189