Sat. 25th November – Toolstation Premier Div. Melksham Town 1 Cribbs 1 Sat. 2nd December – FA Vase 3rd round Bridgwater Town 2 Melksham Town 2 Bridgwater Town 2 Melksham Town 2 (AET) Mon. 4th December – FA Vase 3rd round (Replay) Melksham Town 2 Bridgwater Town 0

AFTER success in the FA Vase, Melksham Town manager Kieran Baggs has vowed to return the team’s focus to their performance in the league, in a bid to put pressure on the top two teams.

After a frustrating league draw against Cribbs last month, Town now sit in fourth place in the league. With a game in hand, they lie 12 points behind leaders Street. Town have five more league games before the year is out, and manager Kieran has said the team will be looking to narrow the gap with the leaders.

About the draw against Cribbs in late November, Kieran said, “It was a frustrating day. Cribbs played as if they didn’t want to win. They got a goal early on in the first minute and then played just to hold onto the lead for the rest of the match. We were lucky to get a response with a great goal from Jake Brown who is on top form at the moment. After that we just could not get a second goal.

“It was disappointing to come away with a point, as we want to put pressure on the top of the league. We’ll look to put this right in the next league game. But it’s great that we stay unbeaten in the league for the last seven games.

Next up were Bridgwater Town in the FA Vase third round. “Early in the game we went ahead after a goal from Jake Brown, but Bridgwater equalised after a penalty and then quickly pulled ahead. We managed to equalise when we were awarded a penalty and Gary Higdon finished off the job bringing it to 2-2.

“The score stayed like that for the rest of the game and extra time was called. We did score in extra time, but the goal was disallowed, which I thought was a bit harsh. But overall the result was fair for the game.

“For the replay we welcomed Bridgwater to Oakfields on Monday. I moved the team around in a bid to tire and fizzle out Bridgwater’s wingers. We got off to great start with a goal from Luke Ballinger, whose corner went straight in at the far post. There were some great performances – the back four and the goalkeeper were superb. The whole team worked tirelessly. Two minutes before full time, Jake Brown set Luke Ballinger up for his second goal and what followed were some great celebrations.

“We play Crowborough Athletic in the next round in early January. Chair Darren Perrin is going to watch them in action and prepare a match report for us so we can be best prepared for the match.

“Our focus for the remaining weeks of the year will be the league, that’s our bread and butter, so it’s important to remain focussed, concentrate and keep pressure on the top two in the run up to Christmas.”