KIERAN Baggs refused to be too crestfallen despite seeing his Melksham Town side surrender a two-goal lead to take only a point from Tuesday's night's clash at Chipping Sodbury Town.

The visitors appeared in cruise control when goals from Ben Thomson and Gary Higdon handed them the advantage in Gloucestershire, but the hosts pulled a goal back before half time and restored parity 10 minutes into the second period to ensure the spoils were shared.

The result robbed Melksham of the chance to go top of the early-season standings but Baggs preferred to look at the bigger picture as he contemplated a home clash with Shepton Mallet this weekend.

"People looking at it will probably mark it down as two points dropped and we probably had the chances to win three games,'' admitted the Oakfields boss.

"But fair play to Chipping Sodbury. They kept working and working and they made it very hard for us, so they probably deserved a point.

"Performance-wise, it wasn't pleasing but it's another point on the board. We would have taken 10 points from 12 at the start of the season.''

Town were without a game last weekend but despite admitting that situation was less than ideal, Baggs believes Tuesday was a reminder to his men of the challenge they will face this season.

"That slowed the momentum a little bit,'' he said, of the weekend inaction.

"After the win over Odd Down (on Monday of last week) we could have done with another game.

"If you look at the teams at the top of the table, they are the ones people would probably have expected to see there, so when teams play Melksham, everyone wants to beat us.

"That's something the lads need to remember, so we need to make sure we match teams for workrate. We've got to be prepared.''

Town have secured the signing of striker Tyler Sibbick from Evo-Stik League South West side Larkhall Athletic.

Former Frome Town frontman Sibbick played alongside Baggs at the Bath side, with the Melksham manager saying: "I know him really well.

"He came to have a look at the ground and said he couldn't say no to the opportunity.''