MARK Collier was pleased to round the National League South season off with a win as an under-strength Chippenham Town side defeated Welling United 1-0 at Hardenhuish Park.

Collier was without the services of Alexander Ferguson, Dean Evans (both suspended), James Guthrie (injured) and Nick McCootie (illness) for Town’s final game of the season.

But his men still managed to record another three points thanks to Andy Sandell’s first-half strike as Chippenham ended their maiden National League campaign 13th in the table.

Town’s final position pleased Collier, who was tasked with dodging relegation by the board as Chippenham accomplished their main task in their first season of step two non-league football.

“Our home form is right up there with the best,” said Collier.

“That can only give us confidence that we can play at this level, we can cope.

“A poor middle part to the season ultimately cost us some places or maybe more.

“It’s been a learning curve for us. Our away form needs to improve next season. That’s something we can talk about and discuss and aim to improve on next year.

“I would have certainly taken 13th at the start of the season.

“Our objective was to stay in the division and we’ve done that comfortably.”

Collier now has a Wiltshire Senior Cup Final against Highworth Town to focus on next month before switching his attention to building a squad fit to establish Chippenham as a secure National League South side next season.

The Town boss revealed he will look to add to his squad, but hinted at keeping large parts of this season’s team – highlighting the ‘strength in depth’ available at his disposal.

He said: “We have to have a squad of players and they must all be used.

“We have got strength in depth.

“Our four missing players would have started Saturday’s game. But we still put a strong squad onto the pitch, and a strong bench as well.

“We need to add to our team though, we need to add some experience, some quality.

“We have tried different things and formations towards the end of the season, hopefully that will set us in good stead for next year.

“Saturday was a confident victory, three good points and a clean sheet against another good team in the division.”