Melksham travelled to Gloucestershire to meet their opponents on a blustery afternoon and came away with a hard earned point which may prove crucial in the final run in.
Slimbridge made the better start, with Melksham tentative and slow to react to the ball, possibly feeling the weight of so many away games in a short space of time and with a few players carrying niggling injuries.
The homeside’s Parrott went close on six minutes with a long range effort, Ward’s corner on 13 came back into play off the far post and was cleared for another corner. In truth both sides struggled to create any real chances, although Melksham’s created a chance on 35 minutes when Shaun Benison set up Dan Kovacs, whose effort beat the keeper, but came back into play off the foot of the Slimbridge post.
As the half wore on Melksham were beginning to get back into the game and from a long Dan King throw Evans’ punch under pressure set them up with another chance but Odiero was alert to clear the danger.
Two minutes before the break Martin brought a good save from Melksham Keeper Rob Brown with a dipping shot which was turned over for a corner, but the sides went in level at the break but with the deceptively strong wind at the visitors back in the second period.
The second half was nine minutes old when a Thomson cross was headed over by Perrot and on the hour mark Melksham brought on leading marks, and Gary Higdon for Dan Kovacs.
On 64 minutes Melksham’s Benison was presented with a golden opportunity to score when Higdon flicked a King throw into his path but the wide man chose to head goalwards and straight at the keeper when on reflection he may have brought the ball down and shot.
Break down the Swans’ left wing saw him beat his man and lay the ball into Dean Turner’s path, but Turner’s shot was again just wide and went into the side netting.
At the other end Mace’s Free Kick was gathered well by Brown under pressure and Town brought on both Rogers and Ibrahim for Stead and Perrot as the game drew to a close.
Melksham had a late scare when a fine Fahy run saw him beat his man, but he was unable to get the ball out from under his feet as he shaped to shoot and the chance was lost with some last ditch defending from the Town.
After the other results the Town are now assured of at least second place which is the highest league position the club have reached, and have the opportunity to clinch the league title with a win at second placed Buckland Athletic in Devon on 25th April. A draw would leave them needing to win at Willand Rovers in their last game of the season on 2nd May to clinch the title.
Exciting times ….
