NEIL Kirkpatrick has ordered his Trowbridge players to picture rivals Chippenham Town when they take to the Woodmarsh pitch tomorrow (Saturday).

The Bees confronted the Bluebirds in a friendly match at Hardenhuish Park on Tuesday night and Kirkpatrick was so impressed with his side he has demanded a repeat performance against Purton.

Trowbridge found themselves 4-0 down at the break but second-half strikes from Chris Tricker and Dean Barker left the Bees buzzing at the final whistle. Kirkpatrick said: "It was a really good exercise and a great chance for my lads to compete against some very good players.

"The result didn't really matter because it was only a training game but nobody wants to get hammered. We won the second half 2-0 and played some good stuff so I was pleased."

Trowbridge have stuttered in their push for promotion but Tuesday's energetic display has restored Kirkpatrick's faith at a time when some sections of the Woodmarsh faithful have started to doubt their team.

He said: "There has been lots of negativity flying around lately and one or two silly posts on the club message board. But we are all together in the dressing room and the team is really looking forward to the run-in. "I told the players they have got to imagine they are playing the likes of Chippenham Town every week, because we always seem to perform better against the top sides."

Visitors Purton have won only two games on the road this season, but Kirkpatrick knows he can take nothing for granted after the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Cheltenham Saracens two weeks ago.

He said: "Purton have struggled in the league this year but most of their points have come in the last few games. They will be no push-overs. "We've got seven games in 21 days in April so it's important that we start with a win. We are still involved in the race for promotion and I would rather be in this position than have nothing to play for at all."

New signing Ben Hardman will start his first game for the club tomorrow and teenagers Dan Kovacs and Dan Crease are also pushing for places after impressing against Chippenham.

Defender Adrian Barnes suffered a broken leg in the defeat to Cheltenham and will miss the rest of the Hellenic League season. The eldest of the Barnes trio is a qualified physiotherapist but a fractured fibia is beyond even his powers of healing.