SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE

Melksham Town 3,

Bishop Sutton 2

MELKSHAM bounced back from Saturday's disappointing performance at Paulton to gain a deserved Premier Division win at a soggy Conigre on Tuesday night.

On a near waterlogged pitch, both sides did their best to play decent football and the referee played his part by keeping the game going wherever possible.

"The pitch was in shocking state, but I think the referee did brilliantly to get the game on and both teams played some good football at times. In the end I think we just about deserved to win it," said Melksham manager Robbie Lardner.

The visitors took advantage of a Melksham defensive mistake to take the lead after 10 minutes, but Matty Bown brought the scores level when he volleyed home after the ball had come back off the Bishop Sutton crossbar.

Gary Lewis finished off a fine Melksham move to make it 2-1 just after half-time and Bown added the third, scoring from a corner, midway through the second half.

Bishop Sutton scored their second from a disputed penalty in the 80th minute, leaving Melksham an anxious ten minutes to hang on.

Paulton Rovers 3,

Melksham Town 1

PAULTON broke the deadlock with a class touch from midfielder Gary Smart whose header set up Tony Cook, who rounded the Melksham goalkeeper and slotted the ball in.

Smart increased Paulton's lead on the hour when he got in behind the defence and latched on to a high cross.

Substitute Matty Messenger pulled a goal back on 65 minutes with an unmarked header, but Paulton substitute Richard Parkes made the game safe with Paulton's third in the 80th minute.

Backwell United 1,

Chippenham Town 2

CHIPPENHAM Town manager Tommy Saunders was far from happy with his team's all-round performance on Saturday, but admitted the away success was an excellent result.

Saunders was a relieved man when his team hung on for three points.

He said: "It was a dire performance. The team need a good kick up the backside. We were extremely lucky to win."

The team were short of five first team players, due to injury and suspension, but Saunders does not accept that as an excuse for a poor display.

Backwell went ahead after 12 minutes following a good break involving Hewitt and King, who beat Jones.

Chippenham came out the stronger in the second half and Woods made it 1-1 on 55 minutes.

Two minutes later there was disaster for Backwell when Craig Patch diverted a shot that Ollis had covered for an own goal.

The injury situation seems to be clearing up ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Barnstaple, although there are still a couple of slight worries. Lee Collins is suffering from a torn hamstring and Nicky Beaverstock has a leg injury.

Calne Town 0, Street 0

BOTH sets of players were a credit to their clubs and themselves in this Screwfix First Division match, which was played in the most appalling conditions of wind and incessant rain on Tuesday night.

How there were no goals will also remain a mystery as mistakes were numerous on the slippery, treacherous surface which by the end was only good enough for a bout or two of mud wrestling.

Yeovil Town Reserves 4,

Devizes Town 0

A DISMAL first half showing from Brian Newlands' side in Saturday's Premier Division match left them with an uphill task in the second period, which they were unable to climb.

The hosts, bolstered by the inclusion of several first team squad players, comfortably secured the three points thanks to goals apiece from Chris Giles and Glenn Poole.