CHIPPENHAM Town gave their supporters the ideal Christmas present as they recorded a vital one-nil victory over Hitchin Town. 

On 12 minutes Dave Pratt was flattened in the area but despite strong claims no penalty was given. 

Hitchin then put the hosts under pressure with a slick passing game which saw them dominate midfield, but the Bluebirds defence was able to hold firm.  

In the 37th minute a low ball into the box saw Pratt with only Johnson to beat but the Chippenham striker slipped before Sandell's shot was blocked.

Early in the second period Chitty  made a crucial double save, firstly he punched away Brett Donnelly’s header before flinging himself across goal to tip away a fierce drive from Ben Walster.

Sandell then lifted a free kick over the bar before a telling moment on fifty four minutes saw Hitchin’s Lewis Rolfe dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The all important goal came on seventy four minutes when Sandell’s ball into the area found Pratt to the right of goal and his delicate touch to the left took him past a defender and wide of Johnson and he slotted home with his left foot as the Bluebirds claimed all  three points.