INFLUENTIAL midfielder Mark Badman has been pulled out of the Chippenham Town team for Saturday's Southern League Premier Division match with Tiverton Town to ensure he is available for the big clash with Bath City on Monday.

Badman is just one booking away from a suspension and manager Darren Perrin has ordered his engine room mainstay to watch from the stands tomorrow. Perrin said: "There's no way we're going to risk Mark against Tiverton. We've got to look at the bigger picture, which is the play-offs at the end of the season.

"I know Mark wants to play for Chippenham Town in every single match, but he will not be involved on Saturday, however much he wants to be. "Mark has been outstanding for us this season and he will definitely start the game at Twerton Park."

Badman scored his one and only competitive goal for the Bluebirds in 2-0 win over The Romans in December.

  • Full story and previews of the Easter holiday games in Friday's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.