Sat 17th January. Melksham Town 4-5 Shaftesbury
Sat. 24th January. Didcot Town 2-0 Melksham Town
Melksham Town’s poor start to 2026 has continued with two defeats, making it four defeats in a row now since the start of the New Year.
The defeats leave Town just one point above the relegation zone, having played more games than the teams below them.
On Saturday 17th January, Town went down to a dramatic 5-4 defeat at home to Shaftesbury. Twice Melksham went behind in the first-half but hit back immediately. First, Shaftesbury opened the scoring on 20 minutes only for Will Christopher to equalise two minutes later; then on 43 minutes, the visitors struck again, but Town equalised within a minute through Olly Mehew.
Melksham took the lead straight after the break; Jamal Lawrence with his 13th of the season before Shaftesbury levelled on 49th minutes.
Town then took the lead again with a goal from Finn Bell on 54 minutes and looked to be heading for three vital points. But Shaftesbury netted twice late on in the 88th and 91st minutes to leave the home side empty handed.
A Levi Irving red card for two bookings added to Town’s woes.
Town then travelled to Didcot on Saturday 24th January and went down to a 2-0 defeat.
It was all square at the break but the home side went ahead on 53 minutes before a late clincher in injury time.
Head coach Stuart Fleetwood said, “It’s a massive week for us coming up.
Four losses on the spin isn’t good enough, and we play a really difficult side with some very good quality players in Bishops Cleeve this week.
Pictures by: Starsphinx Photography
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