CHIPPENHAM Town manager Gary Horgan said his players produced “arguably their best performance of the season” on Tuesday night as the 10-man Bluebirds scrapped for a 0-0 draw against National League South leaders, Ebbsfleet United.

Following Eddie Jones’ controversial red card towards the end of the first half, goalkeeper Will Henry secured a point for his side after saving Luke O’Neill’s penalty in the 73rd minute.

Ebbsfleet failed to win a game for only the ninth time in 31 league games this term, while the draw pushed Chippenham up to 21st and inside the drop zone on goal difference alone.

Looking back at a determined display in midweek, Horgan said: “Nobody outside of our club probably gave us a hope of getting anything, but we started the game on the front foot and had the best early chances against what is the best side in the league, no doubt.

“But then there is a decision from the referee that the assessor said that he didn’t think was a red card which changes the game.

“But we showed bags of character and spirit to produce arguably our best display of the season.

“I was as proud of the boys on Tuesday as I was against Lincoln in the FA Cup because it was a fantastic point in really tough circumstances.”

Chippenham responded in midweek after a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at Dartford at the weekend.

The Darts scored within the first two minutes of the game before doubling their advantage early in the second.

The Bluebirds’ frustration with the officials continued after Luke Russe saw an effort incorrectly chalked off for offside around the hour mark.

On the Dartford defeat, Horgan said: “On Saturday, we conceded after two minutes. When that happens, any game plan you have kind of goes out the window a little bit.

“But it’s not like we set up to try and nick a point – we went on to dominate the game in the first half.

“We came in at half-time saying more of the same would get us right back in the game, and I think we’ll go on to win it.

“And then it’s a repeat of the first half as we concede early in the second half too.

“We created a few more chances and had a really good goal wrongly disallowed for offside, but that’s our luck at the moment.”