Melksham Town completed a remarkable Great Escape to secure their survival in the Southern League on a dramatic final day of the season.
Second-half goals from Elliot Haffenden (68 minutes) and Ralph Graham (89 minutes) earned a crucial 2-0 victory at Falmouth on Saturday 25th April, enough to keep Town two points clear of the relegation zone despite Willand Rovers’ 3-0 win over bottom side Tavistock.
It caps a stunning turnaround for Town under returning manager Kieran Baggs, who took charge last month with Town second from bottom, having won just once in ten games.
Since then, Kieran has guided his side to five wins and two draws from nine matches, including three straight victories to end the season and complete their survival mission.
“It was really, really tense here today so it was about managing the lads’ mentality, remaining patient,” he said after the Falmouth win. “We rode our luck at times, but the sheer determination and work rate of the boys was fantastic and what a travelling support we got down here today. That’s what Melksham Town is about. I love that; I couldn’t be more delighted.
“We’ll be in a lot better position next year and we won’t be at the wrong end of the table because it’s not enjoyable being in a relegation scrap.
“That’s three wins on the spin to keep us up. Hartpury away, the champions at home, Frome Town, and then coming away for the last game of the season having to win, because of Willand winning against Tavistock and commiserations to them but we have survived. We are a Southern League team and we look forward to the future.”
Captain Mark Cooper said his side had put in “three monstrous performances, three huge clean sheets,” in their final three games to keep Town up.
“As captain of this club, I’m proud of every single one of them from the backroom staff to the subs to everyone involved, the volunteers, Estelle the camera lady, the supporters.
“The foundations are there now and the standards have been set and we’ll be in pre-season, whenever that this, and we don’t want to be in this position again. We want to be fighting for stuff at the other end of the table. Fingers crossed, we can cross this season off, enjoy the moment and then next season we go back to work”
Picture: Starsphinx Photography
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