After Tuesday’s superb win at Slimbridge in the FA Vase replay Melksham entertained Hallen at The Conigre looking for another three points.
They had hoped to extend their lead at the top of the Toolstation Western League with a victory but had to settle for a point in a hard fought encounter.
In three changes from Tuesday’s game Leigh Rogers and Ash Barnett found themselves rested whilst Dave Thompson was unavailable .Returning to the starting line up were Mike Perrott,Dan King and Luke Smith .
Rob Brown in the home goal produced a fine full length save after 6 minutes from Collett as the visitors pressed and looked a threat with the ball which belied their lowly league position with some neat football on a heavy pitch. On 23 minutes Melksham’s mid week hat trick hero Dan Griffiths saw his looping header clip the top of the bar but in all truth the visiting keeper Evans had the effort covered and on 35 minutes Hallen’s Mills missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when heading over when ideally placed 6 yards out. The visitors were made to pay for this miss within minutes as Dan King picked up a loose ball in midfield and after playing a one-two with Perrott blasted the ball into the net from 8 yards to put Melksham 1-0 ahead.
On 44 minutes King curled in a teasing cross right onto the head of Gary Higdon but the striker knocked his header wide from 10 yards out with everyone in the ground expecting the net to bulge as the striker sought his 151st goal for the club.
On the half time whistle with Hallen edging the possession Hicks smashed his shot over from close range and the Town held onto the slim 1-0 lead at the break with Hallen no doubt feeling they should at least be level if not in front.
Hallen continued to press early into the second period and Bennet and Smith were forced into last ditch blocks to stop an equaliser whilst on 52 minutes Higdon was presented with another headed opportunity from 6 yards out by a delightful King cross but his header was straight at the keeper with the goal at his mercy. However on 54 minutes Hallen deservedly drew level when Hicks smacked a 25 yard swerving effort past the startled Brown in the home goal to bring the scores at 1-1 with both sides in with a chance of collecting the three points.
On 64 minutes Perrott’s header from a Thomson corner was cleared off the line by Butler.
The home side introduced substitutes Alex Hillier and Rogers for Ibrahim and Griffiths as the Town looked to wrestle the advantage and on 75 minutes Melksham keeper Brown was forced to top over a Hicks long range free-kick.
On 81 minutes The Conigre faithful felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Evans in the Hallen goal appeared to push Higdon in the back but the referee was unmoved and waived away the home protests.
Hallen’s Clennel picked up the only caution of ten game on 82 minutes for a for a foul on Rogers.
With time running out Perrott once again was unlucky to see a header cleared off the line and as the game entered the last minutes the visitors Mills will have been disappointed not to have kept his close range effort on target from 10 yards out which would have surely won the game.
The final whistle came with both sides having to settle for a point and the Town now have a mid week trip to Street on Tuesday in the league before Saturdays home FA Vase encounter with Shepton Mallet.
