A stunning strike from former Swindon Supermarine striker David Pratt guided Chippenham to a crucial 3-1 victory over their rivals and exorcised their Tuesday night demons.

The Bluebirds had suffered setbacks in their previous two midweek games with losses against Hemel Hempstead Town and Oxford City.

However it proved to be third time lucky for Adie Mings’ side, who showed greater tenacity and awareness than on previous Tuesdays to keep their play-off dream alive.

“I’m not renowned for my spectacular goals but to get one like that was good, especially in such an important game,” said Pratt, who opened the scoring on 14 minutes by meeting a cross on the volley in mid-air, sending the ball into the top corner.

“Everyone keeps saying to me ‘it’s your old club’ but you’ve got to put it to the back of your mind and do what you would do in any other game and that’s all I did. I wasn’t worried, I just played my normal game.”

Marine equalised just before half-time with an equally brilliant effort from Ash Edenborough, who lobbed Chris Snoddy from 20 yards.

The turning point came soon into the second half when an already booked Ross Adams was not cautioned again for denying the pacey Marine forward a goal-scoring chance.

The visitors were clearly angry but could have no complaints about the quality of the Bluebirds’ second goal, when Sean Seavill applied the finish after an inspired, incisive pass from Scott Lye to create the chance.

Swindon defender Lee Henry then put the game to bed with a clumsy own goal under pressure from Pratt, who now hopes the win can launch his side up the league.

“They are on our tail with a few games in hand,” he said. “So to beat them and get three points pushes us up the table a bit more and towards that play-off position.”

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Williams, Lamb, Adams, Casey, Allison, Gullick, Holly (Martin 84), Lye, Pratt (Arnold 78), Seavill (Sercombe 88). Subs not used: Halliday, Swallow