SHAUN Lamb has been axed by Chippenham after he was sent off for the second time in four games.

The full-back was dismissed for a headbutt against Barwell on February 18 and then saw red again during Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Brackley for foul and abusive language directed at a linesman shortly after coming off the bench.

Chippenham boss Adie Mings said: “Shaun had just come back from a three-match ban and after being on for five minutes, he’s verbally abused a linesman and left his team in the lurch.

“He knows that he’s not been the player we thought he would be when we signed him, but we have to thank him for everything that he’s done.

“It’s one of the tough decisions that you have to make and that’s the first one. “ Meanwhile, Mings has challenged the remainder of his squad to use the rest of the season to prove they deserve to stay with the Bluebirds beyond the summer.

He added: “They need to show me that they want to be at the football club.

“It’s this time of year that players start becoming available and I think four or five new faces would help us push on next season.

“I believe I have got the nucleus of a good side here but last Saturday was the first time I could say some people didn’t give their all.”

Chippenham welcome Oxford tomorrow as they aim to end their miserable Southern Premier run of seven games without a win.

Jason Matthews looks set to continue in goal, but Alex Kite has been struggling with concussion and Mani Randhawa is suspended.

“As I’ve said to the players, we draw a line under what’s happened,” said Mings.

“It’s a new game and a chance to give ourselves a new lease of life.”

Cirencester can keep up their extremely slim hopes of survival this weekend with victory at play-off chasing Cambridge.

However, should they lose, the Centurions’ relegation to Division One South & West could be confirmed next weekend.