Highmore 'like a badger at start of mating season' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Highmore 'like a badger at start of mating season'

12:07pm Thursday 22nd February 2007 in Football By Nick Mashiter

MELKSHAM manager Kelvin Highmore was left feeling a little feral after ending Corsham's 19-game unbeaten run in the league on Monday.

They had already trashed lowly Torrington 7-0 on Saturday, for their biggest win in 30 years, with a hat-trick from Mike Perrott, two from Luke Ballinger and strikes from Johnny Devoile and Steve Tweddle before this win over the Toolstation Premier Division leaders.

"I've been looking for a striker to put the ball in the net and been saying someone was going to get a hammering, which came at the weekend," said Highmore.

"It is nice to score two goals against the benchmark for Western League football without reply.

"I thought we deserved it from start to finish - I'm as happy as a badger at the start of mating season."

Corsham boss Colin Bush was upset with his side after finally tasting defeat in the league for the first time since August.

"It was one of our poorest performances of the season and we just didn't turn up," he said. "It is a nice reality check, they know they are better than how they performed tonight but when the wheels come off, they come off."

Both sides started tentatively but it was the hosts who drew first blood with the first real chance of the game on 12 minutes.

Tweddle found Perrott on the right and the Wiltshire U18 captain took a touch before rifling in past Craig Chaplin from an angle.

It was the winger's fourth goal in two games but he is not worried about who scores ahead of the trip to Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday.

He said: "I'm not keeping count of my goals, as long as the team is winning that's all which matters."

Corsham, who won 1-0 at Street on Saturday through Gary Blackwood's goal, tried to hit back immediately but Toby Colbourne's effort was saved by Steve Perrin.

Tweddle then put Ballinger through who forced a good save from Chaplin.

Within minutes of coming on as substitute for the injured Jack Cullis, Ross Lye had a golden chance to equalise when Colbourne's blocked effort fell to him but he could only scuff the ball onto the post from close range.

Corsham, who host Willand Rovers on Saturday, should have equalised eight minutes into the second half when Danny Western, who had been one of the better performers for his side, produced a contender for miss of the season.

Scott Lye delivered a low cross, which found the diminutive striker at the near post, but from virtually on the goaline he somehow got the ball stuck under he feet and it was cleared.

The visitors were getting frustrated and long shots from Ben Fitch, Lye and Simon Gray all missed the target.

The hosts always looked dangerous on the counter attack and came close when Perrott's long clearance found Ballinger, who crossed for Tweddle whose half volley was deflected wide.

The resulting corner was delivered in low by Ballinger and Tweddle stole in to fire home at the near post for 2-0 with ten minutes left.