MELKSHAM Town threw away a 1-0 half time lead on Saturday as three second half goals from managerless Frome brought them back down to earth with a bump.

Melksham had only lost one of their previous six matches before Saturday's game, keeping five clean sheets in the process, but an error ridden performance allowed Frome to take maximum points.

It could all have been different had Melksham striker Owen Bryan not hit the crossbar with the keeper nowhere early in the game.

By this time Simon Price had already put the hosts in the lead but seconds half efforts by Jon Hayter (2) and Darren Lush allowed the visitors to cruise to victory.

Manager Nigel Tripp was disappointed with his side's performance. He said: "We didn't play very well at all. Owen Bryan could have put us 2-0 up but to be honest they could have had a few in the first half as well.

"Our run had to come to an end at some point and they are not a bad side but we need to be more consistent. A few players dropped their level of performance and were not on top of their game. But hopefully it will ease the pressure off us a bit."

Frome almost took the lead with the first attack of the game as Melksham goalkeeper Gareth Evans failed to hold an Adam Fricker cross and Brian Kayll just managed to sweep the ball behind with Hayter lurking.

The visitors thought they had taken the lead on 16 minutes, when Mark Salter headed a free kick by Neil Smith into the net but it was ruled out for offside. Melksham's first chance of the game fell to Simon Price who was put clear on goal but Aaron Salter cleared the danger with a well-timed sliding tackle.

On 28 minutes Steve Pegler headed a free kick by Owen Bryan across the face of goal and Price was in the right place to volley home his third goal in three games.

Frome were almost dead and buried just before the break when Bryan latched onto a long pass from Dean Ranger and rounded Stuart Parris in the visitor's goal only to see his shot clip the cross bar with an open goal beckoning.

The early stages of the second half saw Melksham pressing hard to extend their lead and Ranger should have done better from a Dave Macey cross.

But from equalised on 63 minutes when former Westbury United defender Darren Lush volleyed a Neil Smith free kick into the net.

With 20 minutes left, Frome deservedly took the lead as a superb run by Adam Fricker saw him beat two challenges and his pull back found Hayter who side footed the ball home from close range.

Frome were now in complete control and with eight minutes to go Hayter added his side's third with a good run and shot.

Former Chippenham boss Tommy Saunders, who has applied for the Frome post, was among the crowd watching the game.