MELKSHAM Town have had a quieter few weeks than they’re used to, but manager Darren Perrin is confident they can keep up good form in the coming games.
The side have played just two games so far this month, with a 2-0 league win over Bristol side Cribbs, and a tough FA Vase fixture played away on Tuesday night, after Melksham News had gone to press.
The Cribbs victory was Town’s second home league game of the entire season, played back at The Conigre, where they took a comfortable 2-0 win with a goal from new signing Sam Jordan and a clean sheet for keeper Rob Brown.
Darren was delighted with the performance. “We put in an impressive performance against Cribbs,” he said. “The first half was very even and there weren’t many chances because both sides cancelled each other out.
“In the second half the Melksham lads put the pressure on and two great headers from Gary Higdon and Sam Jordan sealed the points. It was pleasing to keep a clean sheet as well – that was a decent win against a very good team.”
Town are still second in the league, tied with Street on 42 points from 18 games. December, January and February will see them play 12 home games in a row, with a move to the new Oakfield Stadium expected in January.
Darren said, “It has been good to have a bit of a break from travelling, but the downside is that we’re on good form and when you get momentum going you want to keep playing.
“It’s incredible how well the team is doing again. We’re second in the league and the players deserve all the credit for working so hard. We don’t even come close to competing financially with the top teams in this league, but the Melksham players deliver again and again. It’s nothing to do with me; the lads deserve every bit of credit going.
“We’re excited to have new signings Sam Jordan and Dan Demkiv on board. Sam is a striker on dual registration from Weymouth; most people will know him from the goals he scored for Bradford Town.
“Dan is a former Southampton academy player who was extremely unlucky not to get a professional contract. He plays at a far better standard than our league and I won’t be surprised if someone else picks him up within a few months.
“We won’t stand in his way – it’s brilliant to have him playing for us and it’ll be good for him to get some game time.”
Tuesday night’s fixture was intended to be played on Saturday but was cancelled by opponents Hartley Wintney at the 11th hour due to a waterlogged pitch.
Darren said Town were ‘massive underdogs’ going into the game against a pair of strikers who have scored over 90 goals between them this season, but he remained hopeful.
He said, “We know the magnitude of the task but on our day Melksham will give anyone a tough game.”
