DARREN Perrin praised the strength of his Melksham Town squad following their convincing 3-0 triumph away at Willand Rovers at the weekend.

Melksham had to travel to Devon without a host of regulars due to a series of injuries but returned with three points to stay in the top three in the Premier Division table.

After an even opening, Leigh Rogers gave Melksham the lead at the break as the visitors made their numbers count following the dismissal of Willand’s Ryan Guppy just a few minutes earlier.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as George Pawley made it 2-0 before Rogers hit the back of the net again to seal an impressive win.

“It was an outstanding performance on reflection, especially when you consider that we had six or seven important first-team players missing,” said Perrin.

“We are decimated injury-wise at the moment so to go to a very good Willand side and put in that type of performance was superb.

“In the first half there was nothing between the sides but I suppose you could say the game hinged on a sending off for a Willand player a minute or so before half-time because we then got in front during stoppage time.

“In the second half, apart from the first five or 10 minutes when they really came at us, it was pretty comfortable and we could have scored more, although that really would have flattered us.

“It shows that we have got good depth and we know that if we have got people missing, we have the players that can come in and step up and do a good job.”

The Willand match was Melksham’s 14th away game in a row in the league since the start of the season and they have their first home fixture on Saturday when they entertain Buckland Athletic.

However, it will not be at their new Woolmore Farm ground as had been hoped, as work there is not yet complete, and the match instead will be back at the Conigre.

Melksham had also arranged a glamour friendly against a team of Manchester United legends on Sunday to celebrate of the opening of their new home, although that too will be played at the Conigre.

Having been starved off football action in the town in recent months, Perrin hopes the club’s supporters turn out in their droves for both games.

“It will be nice not to be travelling for a change and although we are not playing where we’d like to be playing, it will be good to have a home game,” said Perrin.

“We’ve had tremendous support in all our away games and I am sure we will get a huge crowd on Sunday but hopefully people can come down on Saturday to cheer us on in what will be another tough game against a very good Buckland side.”

County rivals Bradford Town were overhauled at the top of the table by Bristol Manor Farm after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Clevedon Town.

Matt Morris snatched a second-half equaliser for Danny Greaves’ side at Trowbridge Road and Bradford now travel to Willand on Saturday.