MARK Collier hailed Chippenham Town’s battling qualities as they recovered from a 2-0 half-time deficit to snatch a draw at Slough Town on Tuesday.

The Bluebirds looked in for a tough night at Holloways Park as the home side capitalised on a lacklustre first-half effort to take control of the contest.

But Collier sent his troops out fired up after the restart and goals from Jordan Roberts and James Guthrie earned them a share of the spoils.

“We were a bit disappointed with the first half because they came out of the blocks quickly and got in our faces and we didn’t react to that,” said Collier.

“But we came back really well in the second half and once we got back level I think we could have gone on and won the game.

“We were the team in the ascendancy and were in control of the game and perhaps had the chances to nick it at the end.

“But I can’t be too disappointed because when you are 2-0 down and come back to get a point sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say ‘yes, we’ll take that’.”

Ed Smith’s strike saw the Bluebirds fall behind after 20 minutes before Luke Ballinger and Roberts went close at the other end.

Slough almost increased their lead through Luke Knight, Smith and Jamie McClurg, while Chippenham’s best chance came ten minutes before the break when Mark Francis’ half-volley came back off the bar.

The Bluebirds were hit with a sucker punch, however, as Slough broke and won a free-kick, with McClurg’s effort deflecting off the wall past keeper Kent Kauppinen to double the hosts’ lead.

Chippenham were much improved after the restart and Ballinger fired wide before they gave themselves a lifeline on the hour when Roberts found the net after good work by Francis.

Francis then wasted a good chance to equalise when his shot hit Slough stopper Jake Somerville but the Bluebirds were level soon afterwards as Guthrie scored from close in.

And Chippenham could have snatched all three points late on but Jon Beeden fired over the top inside the box.

The draw extends Chippenham’s unbeaten run to a fourth match and Collier sees no reason why that cannot be extended in Saturday’s trip to third-from-bottom Burnham.

Collier said: “We know that when we play to our very best we are as good as anyone in this division.

“But we are so inconsistent it’s mind blowing – the difference between the first and second halves against Slough was the perfect example.

“The players just need to start trusting themselves a bit more because the quality of our squad isn’t in question.

“Our bench on Tuesday had people like Matt Coupe, Toby Osman and Alan Griffin sat on it – that proves the strength in depth we’ve got here.”

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kent Kauppinen, Conor McCormack, Jon Beeden, Bryan Smith, Greg Tindle, Mark Preece, Alex Ferguson, Mark Francis, Jordan Roberts, Luke Ballinger (Alan Griffin 60), James Guthrie.

Subs not used: Toby Osman, Matt Coupe, Michael Pook, Iain Harvey.

Attendance: 238