The third 1st vs 2nd game in the space of a month saw the Cobblers complete a brilliant treble over their nearest rivals giving them an excellent 22nd league victory in a row to go 15 points clear at the top of the Western League Premier Division. The team sheets sprung a surprise with respective leading marksman Gary Higdon and Steve Murray not named in the starting lines ups but it was Street who adapted better to claim an excellent victory and give themselves a season defining 3 points.
It started so well for the league leaders after only 7 minutes when the Melksham centre back lost possession which was pounced upon by Craig Herrod and his whipped delivery into the box was brilliantly controlled by Josh Wadham who fired his effort into the far corner. Street some how clung onto their advantage five minutes later when Mark Cooper's effort hit the upright and was cleared off the line following a goal mouth scramble. Moments later ex Cobbler Jake Brown couldn't quite connect with a header and Chris Allan's free kick was expertly tipped over the bar by Tom Punchard as Melksham enjoyed their best period of the game.
Max, Charlie and Jamie were fantastic mascots today
After the break Street were content sitting on their one goal advantage knowing Melksham had to attack to claw themselves back in the game. The performance on the day from centre half pairing Ross McErlain and captain Ben Amghar was faultless as the visitors struggled to build any meaningful attacks. The next opportunity came from the home side on 50 minutes as Wadham cut in from the right but his effort went just wide of the upright. The next period of play was dominated by the ref with a flurry of bookings as both sides searched for that all important next goal.
The game came alive in the closing stages when on 85 minutes Jake Mawford controlled the ball out on the left and after ghosting past his marker set up Wadham but his snatched effort went wide. Seconds later Melksham's new signing Jon Davies had a golden opportunity to level things up but Punchard's spread himself to tip his close range effort round the post. In the last minute Melksham were caught on the break with the impressive Wadham broke down the right and unselfishly squared it to Mawford who smashed his effort past the keeper to give Rich Fey's men a well deserved 3 points.
Man of the match presented by match sponsor Steve Bagg was Ross McErlain
