MATT Smith will forever be written into the history of Chippenham Town after he netted the first National League South goal the club has ever scored.

Having been held to a 0-0 draw at home to Havant and Waterlooville, the honour was still up for grabs as Mark Collier’s side travelled to Twerton Park to face local rivals Bath City.

And it took less than four minutes for that record to be taken as Smith popped up inside the six-yard box to prod home a long throw from Andy Sandell.

It was the first of five for the visitors as they also racked up their first win in the sixth tier of English football in emphatic style, securing a 5-2 triumph with Sandell netting twice to add to strikes from Dave Pratt and Will Richards.

“It was a good start and it was good to get the goal for me,” said Smith.

“The gaffer actually said before the game, ‘I reckon you’ll score today,’ and I popped up and got on the scoresheet.

“It’s good to get on the scoresheet and score Chippenham Town’s first National League South goal.

“It was a great win and it was a big game for us, coming here, but the lads were outstanding throughout.

“All the hard work of last season, from the first game to the last was for this and we deserve to get to this level.

“We haven’t come to be a team hanging around the middle half of the league and this result shows that.

“The level is a little step up, the players are smarter, with tackles and stuff but fitness wise, I am capable of that, most of the lads are. We’ve had a good pre-season and we’ll do well with the team we’ve got.

“The fans were also tremendous today.”

Having sent out a statement of intent with their victory over Bath, Chippenham turn their attentions quickly to Saturday’s trip to Braintree Town, who were relegated from the National League last term and will provide another stern test.

“It will be an early start on Saturday but we have to go with the same mentality as we did on Tuesday,” added Smith.

“They’ve come down from the league above, but if we press as hard as we can, I think some teams won’t live with us.

“Going into Saturday, it was a good win on Tuesday but we go again and put that behind us.”