CORSHAM cemented their top five position with a more than solid performance against Ilfracombe on Saturday.

Two goals from Jack Cullis and one from Alan Griffin gave Colin Bush's men another three league points.

The margin of victory could have been greater as Corsham hit the crossbar four times but Bush was satisfied with the performance.

"It was important to score early and we did that," he said. "After the first goal we battered them and were very much in the ascendancy. Despite that it was only 1-0 at half-time and I felt we needed to be brighter up front.

"When we spun round for the second half the lads responded and we got two more early goals. Ilfracombe had picked up some good results lately so it was not going to be an easy game.

"But as we have been doing all season we got stronger as the game went on and it was a good all round performance."

Corsham broke the deadlock inside five minutes from a corner after a Dave Kilmurray shot had been deflected behind. Frankie Coleman took the set-piece and Cullis found the back of the net with a clever scissors kick.

It was all Corsham in the first half and they could have added to their lead but were denied by the Ilfracombe defence and once by the woodwork.

After the break the home side again started at pace and scored their vital second goal close to the hour mark.

Skipper Nigel Curtis was unlucky to see his header crash against the bar but striker Griffin was in the right place at the right time to bury the rebound.

The third goal that killed off any remaining Ilfracombe hopes came from the penalty spot soon after.

Kilmurray was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and Cullis stepped up to notch his second.

Corsham did not ease off and Curtis was again denied by the crossbar and the home side kept the pressure up.

In the final minutes Cullis looked set to complete his hat-trick but his goal-bound effort was blocked on the line.

Bush said his team have exceeded their expectations for the season and anything extra they achieve is a bonus.

"That win matched our best ever points tally and we've still got games to go,'' he said.

"The lowest we can finish now is ninth and I'm hoping that we will end up in fifth or sixth place. The cup final is also a bonus."

The Ilfracombe clash featured the debut for Corsham of former Devizes Town manager Dave Hopkins.

Bush said the 31-year-old defender was a welcome boost to his squad as they entered the final stages of the season.

"We rested Russell Lodge because he had been carrying an injury and Dave Hopkins played," added Bush.

"Having Dave on board gives us the opportunity to select games for Russell to play and he will definitely be in the cup final team.

"Dave makes us stronger in the centre half position. He played really well, had loads of experience and put himself about well."