MARK Collier continues to shape his Chippenham Town side as the Bluebirds again showed their grit as they came back from 2-0 and 3-1 to earn a very credible draw in Bedfordshire.
Collier handed league debuts to Jon Beeden and Tyrone Leigh and introduced Rob Dean after the break and Callum Wright late on.
The Bluebirds boss also made an astute tactical change 10 minutes before the interval with Tom Knighton replacing Shane Blackmore, who was suffering from illness, with Beeden moving inside to centre back and James Guthrie dropping back to the left back position.
The Bluebirds made the worst possible start falling 2-0 behind in the opening 20 minutes, Brett Donnelly heading home following a long throw on four minutes before Steve Gentle got in front of Matt Bulman to head home a Lee Reed corner.
Biggleswade keeper Ian Brown – so often a thorn in the Bluebirds side with his previous club Bedford – again pulled off a series of saves to defy Chippenham, one save from a deflected Harley Purnell drive being outstanding.
Chippenham’s fightback began on 34 minutes when Knighton scored with his first touch as he converted a Joe McClennan cross.
The Bluebirds then conceded a soft third goal in first half stoppage time when the unmarked Sam Reed fired home from a narrow angle with the ball appearing to go through Bulman’s legs.
Early in the second half the Bluebirds’ goal led a charmed life with Donnelly somehow failing with three separate attempts.
The Waders were made to pay on 74 minutes when McClennan’s inch-perfect cross was met with a bullet header from Alan Griffin for Chippenham’s second.
Two minutes later, Griffin headed into the path of McClennan and the winger fizzed a shot across Brown for the equaliser.
Biggleswade played the last nine minutes without Evan Key after he received his second yellow card after a tackle on McClennan. Three minutes from time Griffin was unfortunate to see his shot curl past the top corner.
Chippenham: Bulman, Tovey, Beeden, Harvey, Blackmore (Knighton 34), Leigh, McClennan, Purnell (Dean 46), Griffin, Phillips (Wright 79), Guthrie sub not used: Ben John
Referee: Paul Evans
Attendance: 154
Yellow cards - Biggleswade: Key 45, Gentle 13, Lewis 90; Chippenham: McClennan 90.
Red cards - Biggleswade: Key 81
FULL MATCH REPORT & REACTION AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT TOMORROW AND BLUEBIRDS LIVE RETURNS ON TUESDAY AT CHIPPENHAM TOWN V TRURO CITY
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here