CHESHAM United still have an outside chance of the title despite slipping down to fifth with a 1-0 defeat to Chippenham.

The top of the Zamaretto Southern League is so tight any of the top six can still come top as only six points separate the promotion chasers, with the Generals occupying the final play-off spot thanks to their superior goal difference.

Even seventh-placed Chippenham will feel they have a chance of taking part in the end-of-season lottery with victory over Chesham, with the Wiltshire side on a run of one defeat in 13 games.

A Lewis Powell free-kick was enough to separate the two sides in an even contest, but having fallen behind Chesham never really looked like they were going to get back on level terms.

Darrell Cox had a shot saved by Chippenham keeper Chris Snoddy and sent a shot wide as Chesham started on the front foot.

But the home side showed their quality with Powell just off target and Alan Griffin bringing a smart save from Chesham glovesman Shane Gore.

Steve Wales had a shot cleared off the line by Steve Casey before Gore made another excellent save from Luke Gullick, with James Martin firing over from the rebound.

The only goal of the game came shortly after the restart when Mark Lambert was penalised for a challenge of Powell, who punished Lambert still further when he sent the ball over the wall and in at the far post.

Snoddy made a smart save from a Wales shot but that was about all he had to do in the closing stages as Chesham failed to break down the Chippenham defence. In the end long-range efforts from Chris Watters and John Kyriacou were all Andy Leese’s men could come up with as they fell to only their seventh defeat of the season.