NIGEL Tripp has promised to ring the changes after watching his side slump to their third consecutive defeat with a lacklustre performance.

Melksham were never really in the game and after the break went three goals down before they netted a consolation.

Tripp was left at a loss as to why his side failed to get going but promised changes would be made for the Boxing Day derby with Devizes Town. "It was very disappointing," he said. "We spoke before the game about people needing to pull their fingers out and roll their sleeves up but it didn't happen.

"We will now need to change both our personnel and our approach to game. It was just our lack of desire that was the most disappointing."

"Players have got to be self-motivated. If you go to work and don't do your job you get sacked."

He added: "At the end of the day the buck stops with me and players will be dropped. I'm looking at putting in some approaches for new players and we badly need to strengthen our midfield. At the moment we will probably have to change to formation to block up the midfield until we get the personnel in."

Tripp said his side had to turn things round sooner rather than later or they could find themselves being sucked into a relegation scrap.

"We need to change things because we don't want to become stuck down at the bottom of the table," Tripp added. "On our day we have shown we are a good team but if you are not consistent you will struggle."

Bishop Sutton looked to force the pace in good conditions but let Melksham off the hook by missing a number of opportunities.

The breakthrough did eventually arrive though on 43 minutes. Liam Fussell drilled a left-footed effort into the net from the edge of the area. Sutton continued to make and miss chances after the break the best of which fell to Alex Laing who headed over the bar from close range.

But the home then stepped things up and netted two further goals to put the match beyond Melksham.

Their second came when Joe Parsons got on the end of a Fussell corner to head into the net.

Melksham were dead and buried in the 85th minute when Sutton's Matt Tilley timed his run well to breach the offside trap.

Melksham kept playing until the final whistle and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the dying minutes. Dean Ranger finished well but the result made it three league defeats in a row for Tripp's side.

He is now preparing his side for the visit of Devizes on Friday in what is a crunch game for both teams.

"It's going to be hard," the manager added. "They are bit like ourselves at the moment and both of us have been up and down the table this season. It will be an even game and whoever wants it the most will win. One thing is for sure it's not going to be pretty."

Tripp has made a seven-day-approach for Devizes' Brad Newman but will wait until after the Boxing Day game to speak to the player.

Steve Casey could be available after missing the Bishop Sutton game with a groin strain and Simeon Allison is one of the players who will be brought up from the reserves in a bid to freshen things up.