Melksham went into their third meeting of the season with Shepton Mallet looking to put the disappointment of the Boxing Day home defeat behind them and get the new Year off to a good start.
They produced a fine display to run out convincing 5-1 winners against a good Shepton side who came into the game on the back of a three game winning run.
Melksham shuffled their line up partly with next week’s FA Vase tie in mind and also because of one or two niggling injuries which resulted in Lee Fielding being drafted back into the side after some impressive performances in the reserves and a debut for Omar Simpson.
It was the visitors who settled into the game well from the outset with ex Bristol City favourite Joe Burnell pulling the strings in midfield, and it came as no surprise when Tyson Pollard cut inside and drove home a 20 yard drive past Brown in the Melksham goal to put Shepton 1-0 ahead after 13 minutes, and on 20 minutes Townsley headed wide from close range as the visitors looked for the second goal with Shepton looking comfortable and dangerous in attack.
However as the half wore on the Town started to settle into their new formation and on 30 minutes the homeside were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty for a handball but the ball was scrambled away for a corner. However from the resultant corner from Dan Griffiths central defender Ryan Bennet bundled the ball home from close range to bring the scores level at 1-1.
The goal spurred the Town into life and they enjoyed some good spells of pressure and went 2-1 ahead on 38 minutes when Ian Jeffery and Griffiths combined well down the Town left flank to allow Simpson an effort on goal. His initial shot cannoned off the inside of the post and ran free where the ever alert Mike Perrott rifled home the rebound.
On 41 minutes Melksham pulled 3-1 ahead when Simpson robbed a visiting defender who dwelt on the ball and laid the ball into the path of Dan Kovacs and the striker elegantly slid the ball past the advancing Phillips to leave the Town in a strong position at the break.
Only two minutes into the second period Melksham went 4-1 ahead when Fielding chipped a ball over the top of the visiting defence for Simpson whose cross was slid home by Kovacs to put Melksham out of sight.
On 64 minutes the tiring Simpson was replaced by Higdon and the striker was desperately unlucky to see his shot smash against the inside of the post and away to safety on 69 minutes after some clever link play with Kovacs.
In a good tempered game Fielding and Burnell picked up the only cautions on 70 minutes after a tangle.
On 71 minutes Melksham introduced Ibrahim for Hillier and the Town went 5-1 up on 75 minutes when Ibrahim’s throw was flicked on by Higdon for Griffiths to slam the ball home for the Town’s 53rd league goal of the season.
Late on Morris was introduced for Perrott and the game ended with Melksham securing a fine three points and leaving them in second place in the league one point behind leaders Bristol Manor Farm.
The Town’s reserves picked up a good point in a 1-1 draw at Malmesbury Vic’s thanks to a goal from veteran Adam Young and remain in second position in Wiltshire Premier League. Next up for the Reserves is a Friday night fixture on 16th January, 7.30pm ko, against Chippenham at the Conigre.
The A team consolidated their lead at the top of Trowbridge & District Division 3 with a 5-0 drubbing of Zeals FC with a hat trick from Callum Demkiv and goals from Chay Forester and Dan Moore.
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