MELKSHAM made the long journey to play Buckland at their impressive home in Newton Abbot.
Without regular keeper Tom Drewitt who was serving a 1 game ban for a sending off and with Greener, Hillier Flockton and Benison unavailable for a variety or reasons.
Manager Darren Perrin brought in experienced keeper Nick Evans for his first start for the Town first team since October 2012 and gave Under 18 player Jamie Broom his first start at senior level. Immediately Evans was called into action tipping a low drive around the post for a corner on 3 minutes whilst in an open first period Higdon saw his effort well saved by the home keeper on 6 minutes .
On 28 minutes the Town passed up a glorious opportunity to take the lead when after home keeper Buckler kept out Higdon’s effort Ben Thomson crashed the rebound against the underside of the bar from 6 yards and the ball was cleared away to safety. Melksham were a constant threat on the break and on the half hour mark Higdon headed a Broom corner onto the bar as the visitors looked for the elusive breakthrough.
The wait for the first goal was short lived as on 32 minutes Ben Thomson drove in a low freekick from 25 yards that flew into the bottom corner to put Melksham 1-0 ahead.
The Town reached the break 1-0 to the good and looked forward to a second period where they would have the benefit of a stiff breeze. However the second period saw the homeside gain the initiative from the off with Melksham unable to keep any meaningful possession and the Towns back four and keeper being kept at full stretch.
Town keeper Evans looked secure but could do nothing to prevent a deserved equaliser on 76 minutes when the homeside scored from close range. Melksham threw on another attacker in Nick Ridout on 80 minutes for Leigh Rogers and were rewarded almost immediately when Higdons cross was headed against the post by Thomson only for the ball to fall invitingly at the feet of Ridout 6 yards from goal and the striker gleefully tucked in the rebound to put the Town 2-1 ahead.
Veteran Dave Macey was summoned from the bench for Kovacs in a bid to see out the game and in the dieing seconds Evans bravely gathered the ball at the feet of a Buckland attacker but the Town held on to the 2-1 lead to gain another three points.
Melksham Town’s recent results Saturday 5th April:
Melksham Town 0-0 Willand – Toolstation Premier Division.
