STEVE Perrin confessed to mixed emotions on Tuesday night when he made a swift exit from Hardenhuish Park after Chippenham were knocked out of the Errea Cup.

The Bluebirds goalkeeper was eager to rejoin wife Jayne and new-born daughter Charlotte after a frantic 20-hour day spent driving back and forth from the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Charlotte, who weighed a healthy 7lbs 2oz, was born just after midday and Perrin stayed at his wife's bedside until 4.15pm when he had to rush home to prepare for the match.

He said: "It was a very long day as you can imagine. Of course it was disappointing to lose the football but to come home to a new baby girl puts it all into perspective.

"I felt mentally fatigued and drained when I arrived at the ground. But by the time the game came round I was running on pure adrenaline. It didn't feel like I had nothing in the tank."

Perrin made two good saves in second half stoppage time but it was not enough to prevent a cup upset and a third defeat in four games for the Bluebirds.

He said: "The lads are a bit short of confidence at the moment because things have not been going our way. Everybody is working hard to try to rectify that.

"In every season you have a spell when you don't play that well. Every team has a blip at some point and we just need that bit of luck to change our fortunes."

Perrin has promised the Hardenhuish faithful that the late nights and nappy changes will not affect his performance between the posts.

"Things won't change to the extent that it will affect my goalkeeping," he said. "Being a dad again does not change the fact that I am contracted to Chippenham Town and I have a job to do.

"We are still right in the middle of the action and nobody at the club is giving up hope of winning. Maybe losing on Tuesday night could be a blessing for us because the final is played over two legs.

"I've already played 34 games this year despite missing two months with a shoulder injury. We might just need the break," he said.