ALAN Griffin gave his grandfather a goal to remember on Saturday with a stunning volley that breathed new life into Chippenham's promotion challenge.

Griffin ended a week of mourning with a moment of pure magic that sent a rain-soaked Hardenhuish Park into raptures.

Before kick-off the 600-strong crowd stood in respectful silence in memory of Bernard Griffin, who died aged 81 last Saturday.

His grandson Alan was just seconds away from being substituted when he met a Steve Winter corner with such ferocity the ball almost pierced the netting in Alan Foster's goal.

As Griffin wheeled away to celebrate his strike the burly front man was mobbed by his fellow Bluebirds who knew just how much the goal meant to him.

Griffin left the field to a standing ovation after 73 minutes and Chippenham closed the game out with ruthless efficiency to force a temporary four-way tie at the top of the Premier Division. After the match the striker had a message of thanks for his team-mates and the Chippenham Town officials who organised the minute's silence.

He said: "It's been a hard week for me. I had no idea there was going to be a minute's silence before the game until Darren (Perrin) told me in the dressing room.

"It was really nice of everyone to do that. I really wanted to get a goal for my grandad today, and what a goal it was."

Griffin's strike followed a catalogue of first-half misses, the worst of which was a free header from no further than six yards out.

After weeks sat in the stands with injuries to his knee and back, Griffin had looked a shadow of his former self as he dragged his body through the Hardenhuish sludge.

But the goal was as good as any the home crowd had witnessed this season and Griffin believes there is more to come in the next few weeks.

He said: "I had lots of chances in the first half but it was tough out there. The ball was so wet it just kept sliding off my forehead.

"When Steve hit the corner I just lashed my right boot at it. It was one of those you don't need to think about - you just hit it.

"It was nice to get 70 minutes under my belt without feeling any pain. It's been frustrating having to watch but the physio has done a good job with me and now I'm ready to play."

With rivals Bath City suffering a shock home to defeat Yate, Griffin's 60th minute winner could prove vital in the race for Conference South football.

Visitors Banbury were surprisingly timid in their approach to a game they needed to win to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs. By contrast, the Bluebirds were pumped up and keen to banish the memory of Iain Harvey's unfortunate late own goal at Cheshunt.

Tricky winger Darren Wheeler danced across the saturated surface as though he was wearing flippers instead of football boots.

Wheeler teased full back George Redknap before delivery two inviting crosses which were headed wide, first by Matthew Macentagart and then by Griffin.

The former Corsham striker missed another good chance after 31 minutes when he glanced Steve Winter's deep cross wide of the right post.

Banbury's only chance of the first period came when Ady Fuller's cross was almost met by a sliding Stuart Bridges, but Steve Perrin clawed the ball to safety.

The Bluebirds continued their dominance in the second period. After Griffin's wonder-strike brought the crowd to its feet, MacEntagart headed over and Ben Kirk volleyed wide in a one-sided contest.