City continued their superb run which of form has taken them into the play-off places, with a fourth straight win in a feisty clash against the Wiltshire visitors who finished the match with ten men.

An early goal by Matt Wright and a second half penalty by Ed Palmer were enough to see off the challenge of an in-form Chippenham side.

City have now won nine of their last 11 Evo-Stik Southern premier division outings and are fourth in the table on goal difference, from second-placed Corby Town and Weymouth, who are third after losing 2-0 at Hungerford Town.

The game was never a pretty spectacle and referee David Goard issued a plethora of yellow cards (five to City) plus two and a red to Chippenham defender Greg Tindle for a second bookable offence late on.

City, whose starting line-up showed four changes, though will just be delighted to get the points in their third of four home games in a row.

The match could hardly have started better for City, as Danny Greenslade produced some great skill on the left before firing in a cross for Wright to head powerfully home with only five minutes on the clock.

But they were unable to build on the goal, with Barry Hayles having a shot deflected just wide from a difficult angle after rounding Kent Kauppinen in the visitors’ goal.

Chippenham applied plenty of pressure, especially from set pieces and Ashan Holgate did get the ball in the City net with header from a free-kick but his effort was ruled out for a foul.

City did improve after the break with the introduction of Isaac Vassell and Danny Sullivan.

But it was not until 17 minutes from time that they managed a crucial second with Palmer scoring from the spot after Wright had been needlessly brought down.

With seven minutes left, Tindle then saw red for pulling back Vassell, after being booked for a block on the same player minutes earlier, and there was even time for Charlie Burns to save an Holgate penalty at the death after Arran Pugh had been penalised for handball.

In the end it was another three points from a quickly forgettable game and City will be hoping to end the month with another victory when lowly Burnham visit Treyew on Saturday.

CITY: Burns; Farkins, Palmer, Pugh; White, Krac, Ash (capt), Afful (Sullivan 52), Greenslade; Hayles (Vassell 52), Wright (Duff 69). Subs (not used): Green, Moore.

Yellow cards: Hayles, Farkins, Greenslade, Ash, Sullivan.

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: Kauppinen; Smith, Osman, Coupe (capt), Tindle, Preece, Ferguson (Phillips 71), Roberts, Holgate, Ballinger (Guthrie 90), Guthrie, Subs (not used): Francis, Pook, Harvey.

Yellow cards: Roberts, Guthrie.

Red card: Tindle (two yellows).

GOals: Wright (5) 1-0, Palmer (pen) 73 2-0

Crowd: 302.

Referee: David Goard.

Man of the Match awarded to Ed Palmer.