CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier is delighted to have finally landed long-term target in Mario Mateus.

The winger signed for the Bluebirds on Tuesday from Southern League Premier Division rivals Dorchester Town but it was too late to make it into the matchday squad for the trip to bottom-of-the-league Cinderford Town.

That may have been a blessing in disguise as Colliers team came unstuck in the Forest of Dean, falling to a 3-2 defeat.

The arrival of Mateus has meant the end of Reeko Best’s short spell at Hardenhuish Park but Collier is happy to have secured a player he has had his eye on for a while.

“He was particularly impressive against us when we played Dorchester earlier in the season,” he said.

“I did make an approach for him some time ago, however, Dorchester wanted him to stay and he was happy there.

“We have gone in again and he was keen to come and that is good news.

“He is different to what we have got. He is technically a good player, very quick. He is only a tiny one but the player has lots of pace and plenty of tricks in his locker as well.

“That can add to our armoury.

“It’s a bit tough on Reeko, we wanted to get a wide man in and we went for Mateus earlier in the season and couldn’t get him and then went for Reeko.

“Due to a couple of things, his fitness wasn’t quite there when he came in and then he was cup tied in the Trophy so he found himself out of the team.

“He has found game time a little limited and with Mateus playing in that same position, he has moved on but he has done nothing wrong and does need to play every week.”

Chippenham now have a weekend off to lick their wounds from Tuesday night, having been knocked out of the FA Trophy, and Collier is keen to get working on the training ground to put things right.

“We have got a weekend off and I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing,” he added. “In the long run it may be good because we have had lots of football, every Saturday and Tuesday for a long time.

“I just think we can recharge, put our slippers on at the weekend and then go again a week Saturday when we play Chesham.

“The other side of that, we want to get back out there after a defeat and play again but it is out of our hands.”