CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier hailed an ‘outstanding performance’ as his side set the standard for the season with a 4-1 win away at Weymouth on Tuesday night.

The Bluebirds put on a sparkling performance as three goals in the first period saw the visitors out of sight by half-time.

The second half was almost as dominant, with Matt Smith netting Chippenham’s fourth, but Weymouth gave the scoreline an air of respectability with a late goal from Chris Shepherd.

The Bluebirds made it 1-0 after just six minutes when Nuno Felix broke up an attack, played a central ball to James Guthrie and he found Smith to fire home.

Chippenham doubled their lead in the 24th minute when Guthrie launched a deep free-kick that the incoming Andy Sandell headed home.

Seven minutes later, the Bluebirds wrapped the match up with a third as Dave Pratt was sent tumbling in the area by Dean Evans and Sandell converted the resultant penalty.

“There was no trying to gloss over it, it was a very good performance,” said Collier.

“We were out of the blocks very quickly and got a foothold in the game early on, and looked a threat going forward every time.

“To score three goals before half-time; we were disappointed we hadn’t scored more by the break. We were totally dominant for 75 minutes in total, really.

“Tuesday night was not just about the front two. (David) Pratt and Sandell were outstanding as a partnership but Matt Smith has got two goals from midfield and we have got goals in us all around the pitch.

“It was disappointing to concede a late goal but if someone had said to us on the way down that we were going to win 4-1, we would have taken it.”

The result was the perfect response to being held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Kings Langley on the opening day of the season last weekend.

However, Collier is already looking ahead and wants to build on his team's Weymouth win when they travel to Cambridge City on Saturday.

“Saturday’s result was disappointing because we want to win every time,” added Collier. “We know that doesn’t happen and there are some good teams in this division.

“To go to Weymouth was always going to be difficult. They were on a high after their first game but we had a good feel about ourselves.

“We certainly performed to a level that we will like to try and obtain every week.

“It is a great result for us and one that will only be greater if we get something from the Cambridge game.

“The players have set a standard now and hopefully they can continue along those lines.”