MELKSHAM Town made light work of Bournemouth to secure a trip to Hartley Wintney in the second round of the FA Vase.

It took less than 30 seconds for Gary Higdon to give Darren Perrin’s side the lead against their Wessex League Premier Division counterparts.

Higdon scored his second on the half-hour mark before Dan Kovacs wrapped up the contest before the first half was out.

“It was a comfortable victory,” said Perrin.

“To go away from home, keep a clean sheet and progress, you can’t ask for much more than that.

“We did the job in the first half and it was just the matter of seeing the job out and we did it pretty comfortably.

“The early goal obviously helps and from then onwards, we didn’t really look back.

“To be 3-0 up at half-time, it was important that we didn’t become complacent and we did the job.

“I’m delighted to have got through because it keeps the interest going and £700 in prize money for a club like ours is very important.”

Melksham will now face Combined Counties League Premier Division leaders Hartley Wintney in the second round and while Perrin would have preferred a home draw, he is confident his side can progress.

He said: “It is a nice distraction. It is a national competition and if you can win a couple of games, the interest grows, the coffers get healthier and it is a bit more exposure for the football club.”

Melksham return to league action this weekend when they face another trip away from home, this time travelling to Bridport.

Devizes Town saw their own Vase campaign ended in a home defeat at the hands of Toolstation League rivals Gillingham Town, going down by the same 3-0 scoreline.

There was also home woe for Calne Town as they were beaten 2-0 by visiting Torpoint Athletic, who ply their trade in the South West Peninsula League, at Bremhill View.