MARK Collier is desperately searching for some light at the end of the tunnel, with his team caught in the icy clutches of a winter injury crisis.

With no less than 10 players ruled out of Tuesday’s clash with Cambridge City at Hardenhuish Park, a patched-up Bluebirds side had their wings clipped as their five-match unbeaten run was brought to an end.

Andy Sandell, Alex Ferguson and Michael Pook added to the unavailable Luke Ballinger and Iain Harvey, in addition to Greg Tindle, who was suffering with illness.

Chippenham also have longer-term absentees Ashan Holgate, Lee Phillips, Conor McCormack and Jon Beeden on their injury list, leaving manager Collier relieved that his battered and bruised troops are without a game this weekend due to Chesham United’s involvement in the first round of the FA Trophy.

“At 6:30 on Tuesday, we had more players in the physio room than in the dressing room,” said the Bluebirds boss.

“A few weeks ago, we only had Phillips and McCormack injured and there’s no point saying that it isn’t – it’s a crisis.

“They’ll all be coming in for their treatment and hopefully we can get two or three of them back for the next game.

“We’re actually really happy that we haven’t got a game this weekend. Normally, you’d want one as soon as possible to put right what happened against Cambridge but it’s the best thing for us at this moment in time.”

Chippenham, who remain second in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division despite defeat on Tuesday, got off to a miserable start as Mark Preece fouled Cambridge’s Joel Norris in the area with just 25 seconds on the clock, allowing Josh Dawkin to make it 1-0 from the penalty spot.

After Alan Griffin’s volley was ruled out for offside, the visitors got their second when Norris gave keeper Kent Kauppinen no chance from the edge of the area.

With 71 minutes on the clock, Ieuan Lewis poked home to make it 3-0 before Chippenham’s Matt Smith netted his second goal in as many games to provide some consolation.

Collier added: “We were struggling with injuries but four or five players still fell short of what’s expected.”