CHIPPENHAM Town boss Mark Collier believes it is results like Saturday's 1-0 triumph over Hitchin Town that could make all the difference to his side's Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division promotion prospects.

The Bluebirds clinched the fourth-versus-fifth encounter at Hardenhuish Park courtesy of Dave Pratt's 74th-minute strike, Hitchin also having Lewis Rolfe sent off.

Town are the division's top scorers with 51 in their 24 league games to date but Collier knows the ability to eke out narrow successes when it matters could prove decisive this season.

"It was a deserved result and we were a little unfortunate not to be leading at half-time,'' said the Bluebirds chief.

"We said at half-time that if we could keep a clean sheet we could go on and win the game and that's what happened.

"They (Hitchin) had a sending off, but we were the team that were dominant. It's always going to be fine lines when the top teams are playing each other.

"We played some decent football and overall, we were good value.''

Collier has snapped up the signing of centre-back Rhys Baggridge, from Merthyr Town, with Conor McCormack and Chris Allen departing Hardenhuish Park due to a lack of game time.

Baggridge will join training on Tuesday and Collier said of the former Yeovil and Frome defender, 24: "Rhys brings a proven quality and adds to our defensive strength.

"He has got good experience and knowledge of the division and will have a big part to play in the remainder of the season.''

Town's Boxing Day trip to Cirencester in now scheduled to kick off at 1pm, due to issues with Ciren's floodlights.