CHIPPENHAM Town eventually overcame a robust Hayes and Yeading side who finished the game with nine men as the Bluebirds went second with victory at Hardenhuish Park.

All the goals came after the break as Andy Sandell hit a hat-trick, including a penalty.

The opening quarter of an hour was tame as the two sides sussed each other out. Then the Bluebirds created two chances in a minute.

Hayes keeper Louis Wells came out wide to clear but only succeeded in finding Matt Smith whose 35-yard attempt to lob into an empty net went wide.

Smith then crossed to the far post and Dave Pratt’s bicycle kick went narrowly wide.

On 24 minutes Pratt raced onto a through ball but as he went to shoot he was tackled from behind and his effort went wide and claims for a penalty were turned down.

After Chris Allen had shot high Darren Chitty comfortably held former Bluebird loanee from Swindon Town Lloyd Macklin’s low shot.

On 32 minutes a Pratt glancing header from a Matt Jones cross went wide and five minutes later Wells missed a low through ball that went behind him and towards the goal and he just beat Pratt in a race for the ball.

Wells was again called into action on 38 minutes as he tipped an effort from Smith over the bar. After the interval Hayes number nine, Josh Hutchinson, came out wearing a number 17 shirt which would later cause confusion.

After Sandell had fired over Macklin should have given Hayes the lead as a slip from Will Richards allowed him a free run on goal but as Chitty advanced he slid his shot wide.

A Jones cross then saw Alex Ferguson head wide whilst Greg Tindle headed over a Jones corner.

The opening goal came just before the hour mark as Ferguson floated a free kick across the Hayes defence and Sandell was on hand at the far post to execute a downwards header that bounced into the top corner of the net.

Cole Brown failed to hit the target for the visitors on 76 minutes and a minute later Pratt cut in from the side and was eventually fouled by Wells a yard from the goal line.

The keeper was shown a red card and there followed a four-minute delay as confusion reigned.

Hayes appeared to have used all three substitutes as sub keeper Mo Otuwo prepared to leave the bench and it only transpired to many in the ground after the match that Hutchinson had come out after the break having changed his torn number nine shirt for the number 17.

Sandell kept his cool during all the shenanigans to send Otuwo the wrong way from the resultant penalty to double the hosts' lead.

Pratt swivelled and shot on 84 minutes but was wide before Brown was dismissed for an attempted head butt three minutes from time.

In the final minute of normal time Pratt laid the ball back to substitute Dan Bowman but his shot went over the bar.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time Chippenham were awarded a corner that saw Sandell stab home amongst a crowd of players to notch his hat-trick.

Chippenham: Chitty, Horgan, Beeden, Allen, Tindle, Richards, Ferguson, Smith (Bowman 64), Pratt, Sandell, Jones (Pook 59).

Subs not used: Campbell, Griffin, Best.

Referee: Stephen Oakey (Cheltenham).

Assistants: Andrew Hobbs (Radstock), Liam Beames (Cheltenham).

Attendance: 391