MARK Collier says that Chippenham Town will heed the lessons of their agonising failure to capture a play-off spot in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division.

The Bluebirds were in superb form for long swathes of the season, suffering just five league defeats in the opening five months of the season, but a significant dip in form in March, which saw Collier’s men go seven matches without a win, contributed to them falling out of the top-five picture.

Chippenham, who suffered their biggest defeat of the season as they lost 6-2 at Redditch United on Wednesday night, can now only finish as high as seventh and Collier is certain that he and his players will never need any reminders of the unforgiving nature of their division going forward.

“Our form up until March was outstanding but many of our players suffered a sudden drop in form and they were players that had been with us all season,” said the Bluebirds boss, whose side host Paulton Rovers on Saturday.

“We were also affected by injuries and suspensions and that’s also contributed.

“We’ve not been lower than eighth, which is where we might finish, and there have been more plusses than minuses this season.

“Our league is unforgiving and you have to be at your best every minute of every game. There some big clubs in this division – five, six or seven clubs have played in the Conference and it will be like that again next year.

“I think that we’ve progressed as a football club and as a group of players. I’m already looking to learn the lessons of this season and some players will certainly come in and some will certainly leave in the summer.

“It’s been a disappointing end to the season and we can’t hide from that.”

Ben Whitehead notched twice at Redditch but the hosts stormed into second in the table thanks to a brace from Sam Merson and goals from Ashley Sammons, Jim Mutton, Will Richards and Robbie Thompson-Brown.