DARREN Perrin’s Boxing Day nuptials in Florida were handed an extra sprinkling of sunshine as his Melksham Town team battled their way to victory at local rivals Bradford Town.

Whilst their manager was walking down the aisle in America, Melksham were locking horns with Paul Shanley’s Bradford and the men in black and yellow sealed a 1-0 win against their near neighbours at Trowbridge Road to tie the knot with a gratifying three points.

After Dan Kovacs had set up Gary Higdon to fire in the only goal of the game in the 13th minute, the visitors were forced to defend manfully to repel Bradford but despite striker Kovacs seeing red for an overzealous challenge on Mike Rimmer, they held on for a derby day triumph in a fashion that left assistant boss Mike Kilgour purring.

“That was my favourite kind of result – give me a hard-fought 1-0 over a 6-0 drubbing any day,” said Kilgour, who took charge of Melksham in Perrin’s absence.

“We scored a very good team goal but Bradford were very well-drilled and Tom Evans in particular was very good at the back for them.

“We had to defend and our lads had to throw their bodies on the line but the way that they did that was heroic, really.

“With Darren, football’s never far from his mind so I text him the result after the game and I’m sure he would have been happy to hear about it.

“We’re not as strong as we were last year. The club asked a lot of the players – physically and mentally – last season and we’ve not been able to get to the same level.

“But we’re still competitive and I know that’s what Darren wants. He’s the most demanding manager in the area.”

After Higdon had found the net, Bradford’s Matt Morris went close to levelling matters but Melksham were denied a second goal early in the second period when Kovacs fired into the net following a Shaun Benison free-kick but the strike was chalked off by the referee, who judged that there had been a foul in the build-up.

Home goalie Jamie Bartlett did well to keep out a goalbound header from match-winner Higdon, whilst his opposite number Rob Brown had to be at his best to deny Morris.

Melksham, who are seventh in the Toolstation League Premier Division table, go to ninth-placed Bitton on Saturday, whilst Bradford are also on the road as they make the trip to Cribbs.