CHIPPENHAM Park were denied a much-needed win on Boxing Day as they were pegged back late on by Calne Town and forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

When Chippenham broke the deadlock with 10 minutes to go, new Park chief Brett Partner thought his side had done enough to secure a first win in 13 games but it wasn’t to be as the visitors struck late on.

Having controlled much of the proceedings, an 80th minute corner was only half cleared before the ball was swung back into the box and Jamie Norman was on hand to tap the ball home at the back post.

However, Calne responded with just a couple of minutes left on the clock, although Park boss Partner was able to take positives out of result.

“It felt like two points lost because it was nearly a one-sided game,” he said.

“We had about 15 shots at goal, we hit the post, had goalline tap-ins which didn’t go in and it was one of those afternoons.

“They broke away in the last couple of minutes and had their only shot on target in the second half and scored from it.

“It was one of those games. We were a little bit gutted but it is a step in the right direction because we are playing well but we have just got to try and put that ball in the back of the net.

“I would rather a point than a loss, it is just trying to change things around.”

Partner, who was only overseeing his fourth game in charge of Park since taking over the reins from Nick Maggs, will be glad to see the back of 2016.

And with their next outing not until January 7, when they host Warminster Town, the Chippenham boss will be looking to do more on the training ground to make his mark but is not ruling out bringing in one or two new faces to help things along.

“The games we have played, they have really responded quite well to me,” he added.

“We have played really well, it is just that bit of luck in front of goal, to be honest.

“It’s one of those things, it’s nice to see the back of our poor run. They are a different team now.

“They started well and just had a bit of bad luck and we’re sort of going in the right direction again by creating lots of chances.

“There are lots of positives moving forward and people can see things turning around.

He added: “I’m quite well known in the coaching world because I worked at Bristol City – I am always looking around to see who is there.

“There is quality in the squad to change things around, it is just a bit of confidence that is needed.”