ANDY Sandell fired Chippenham Town to a second straight win at the start of the season as they saw off Bideford at Hardenhuish Park.

Summer signing Sandell broke the deadlock after four minutes but the Bluebirds had to wait until the dying embers of the game to wrap up the win as the striker got his second.

The former Newport County skipper had earlier been the hero in Chippenham’s opening day triumph at Dunstable Town as he got a stoppage-time winner.

The hosts had only just levelled after the Bluebirds had earlier taken the lead when James Guthrie saw a cross diverted into the net by a Dunstable defender.

Boss Mark Collier was thrilled to finish the week with six points but knows his side are capable of better.

“We are delighted with how we have started considering we haven’t really been quite where we want to be,” said Collier.

“We have fallen short of where we want to be football-wise but we have been very resolute and very workmanlike.

“This has been a good start in terms of results but I would like us to be better on the ball.

“It was quite a tight game on Tuesday. They are an attacking side, they score lots of goals.

“I thought the back four, particularly Mark Preece and Greg Tindle, were outstanding.

“After the first goal it was quite even and in the second half they changed things around to get the goal back and threw people forward but we got a great late goal through Andy which killed them off.”

The Bluebirds were made to work hard for their midweek victory but the opening goal came after just four minutes when the Robins defence failed to deal with a low through ball.

Striker Sandell held off two chasing defenders before drawing out keeper Kyle Moore and slotting the ball past him.

After that, it was the visitors who were mostly on the front foot, with Jordan Charran wasting a glorious opportunity to equalise. Earlier, the young striker had seen a goal-bound shot deflected wide by Mark Preece.

Ashan Holgate’s header was held by Moore whilst Chippenham had two penalty claims waved aside.

After half-time, it was Bideford who proved more threatening. Liam Prynn stung Kent Kauppinen’s hands with a low drive, while Sean Downing also wasted two good chances.

The final quarter of an hour saw the match swing Chippenham’s way and Matt Smith and Lee Phillips both went close.

The points were finally safe two minutes from time as Matt Jones picked out Sandell and the striker made no mistake as he buried his shot to the relief of the crowd.