A GOALKEEPING error cost Melksham a well-deserved point as high-flying Corsham extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches on Saturday.

Home keeper Bradley Williams cost the hosts the match when he spilt a soft long range effort that allowed injured striker Alan Griffin to score his second.

Griffin played through the pain barrier as he has ligament damage in his toe, but he gave the visitors the lead before midfielder Mark Jones netted an equaliser on the stroke of half time.

Corsham went into fourth spot for a couple of days, until Frome played on Monday. It is the side's highest ever league position. With 2004 being one of the club's most successful years, Bush is hoping for an equally good 2005.

He said: "We have now gone 11 games undefeated and are looking to continue that. It might work against us as teams are looking to beat us.

"We were undecided if Alan was going to play, so it was good to see him get two goals."

Melksham manager Nigel Tripp thought in-form Corsham did not out class his side.

He said: "It was a shame that we lost to a keeper error but that's football. All credit to our lads, we could have won the match. It was good to see that we scored from a set piece that we worked on in training."

The rough wind and the wet skiddy pitch made it difficult for either side to play the long ball and create much up front.

After a spirited first period, Tripp was disappointed because his side failed to attack their guests for the second half, as the weather worked against them and kept them pinned into their area.

He said: "I would have liked to play this game on a sunny day, the elements ruined this game of football."

The Corsham boss thought the weather worked in his side's favour.

He said: "The wind picked up in the second half and made it difficult for them to get out of their half."

Melksham were missing midfielder David Blake, who is still recovering from mumps and not due back for at least a week.

The game was a scrap right from the start and the 200 plus fans had to wait until the 27th minute to see the first goalscoring opportunity.

Winger Jamie Harrison picked up the loose ball and fired from just outside the box but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Six minutes later a Corsham long ball finally reached the box and started a goalmouth scramble that resulted in winger Scott Lye's shot being cleared to safety.

Melksham attacked with Liam Byfield shooting from long range but his attempt was straight at keeper Craig Chaplin.

At the other end striker Toby Colbourne latched on to a Chaplin goal kick, but his side-footed shot trickled just wide of the far post.

With five minutes of the half remaining a superb ball from Alan Webb cut the Melksham defence in two, allowing Griffin to run through and place the ball past keeper Williams.

Corsham then sat back and expected to go into the break ahead but it was not to be.

Chaplin punched clear a corner from Harrison, the ball got as far as Jones who powered in from ten yards to send the vast home support crazy.

In the early minutes of the second period Corsham should have taken the lead but the home side managed to keep the ball out from a goal mouth scramble, which finished with Colbourne hooking a shot straight at Williams.

The wind became stronger, which made the ball fly all over the pitch making it difficult for both sides to put together any moves.

With 15 minutes left the visitors stole the game when defender Dave Hopkins hit a cross-cum-shot at the keeper.

The ball was wet and Williams spilled an easy catch, the loose ball fell straight to the prowling Griffin. He made no mistake with the goal gaping in front of him.

Corsham were in high spirits after the game and the whole ground could here them singing jingle bells in celebration from inside the changing rooms.

They play at Clyst on Saturday, while Melksham's clash with Odd Down has been postponed because of the FA Youth Cup fixture at the Conigre