Chippenham Town’s already jelly-legged promotion hopes were given what could be the knockout blow on Saturday against the most lightweight of opposition.

It is often said that the most damaging blows are the ones you do not see coming but it is symbolic of the Bluebirds’ season that the league’s bottom club should be the ones to stun them.

Marcus Palmer cancelled out Kyle Tooze’s earlier striker but the side were unable to force a further breakthrough and are facing another year in the Southern Premier League.

The on-loan striker felt his teammates deserved more from the game but blamed complacency as a factor in the result.

“We had so many chances and that’s partly my fault,” he said. “I should have put a few more away. I think we deserved a lot more but that’s football.

“From the start we needed to go all guns blazing. Just because they’re bottom it doesn’t mean they are a bad side. We needed to focus but we didn’t have a good start and then they got a goal and you’re on the back foot.

“We had a few chances before which would have changed the game if we’d scored but we didn’t and unf ortunately they scored at a bad time.”

David Pratt, the season’s top scorer, was sent on in the second half to inspire an oddly lacklustre Chippenham side, who have also lost to lowly Clevedon, and Hitchin this season, but had no immediate impact.

After Palmer headed an equaliser on 82 minutes, the home side finally looked interested but they were unable to force a further breakthrough despite later efforts from Pratt, Sean Seavill and Scott Lye.

The Forest Green Rovers striker says while the Bluebirds may have the skill to go up, they will fail to proceed as long as they lack a ruthless streak.

“I’ve played Conference South and Conference, and they play really good football compared to that but it’s about taking your chances and moving up.”

Chippenham Town: Snoddy, Gullick, Halliday, Martin, Casey, Lamb, Lye, Holly, Palmer, Seavill, Allison (Pratt 58). Subs not used: Powell, Gardner.