DESPITE the natural teething problems of adapting to new surroundings, Darren Perrin was chuffed to see his Melksham Town team take a bite out of Cadbury Heath and earn their first victory at Oaklands last weekend.

Melksham, who were beaten 5-3 by Toolstation League Premier Division table-toppers Bristol Manor Farm in the FA Vase in the at their new ground curtain-raiser on January 14, bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over the Heathens.

Home goalie Rob Brown saved a penalty from the league’s top-scorer Matt Huxley after Cory Simpson had been bundled over in the area and then Sam Jordan put Melksham ahead.

Heath’s Simpson was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Dave Thompson before the first half was out and then Luke Ballinger rounded things off for Perrin’s men by heading home his 23rd goal of the season.

“I’m delighted. Their keeper (Jamie Powell) made some great saves throughout the game but it could have been different if it wasn’t for a good piece of goalkeeping from ours within the first 10 minutes,” said the Melksham manager.

“When you move to a new ground, there’s always so much to do and so much to think about but the players have kept their focus on the football.

“Their man (Simpson) has been sent off for a horrendous challenge, which I don’t think anyone could complain about, but you’re always worried about being caught on the counter when you’re against 10 men.

“That didn’t happen, though. It was good to get a result in front of another huge crowd of over 500.”

Melksham’s victory over Heath stretched their unbeaten run in the league to nine matches but they remain fourth in the table after the top three of Farm, Street and Buckland Athletic all won last weekend.

With second-from-bottom Sherborne Town visiting Oaklands on Saturday, Perrin is in no doubt over the importance of his team keeping themselves in fine fettle.

He said: “We’re still fourth. In any other season, we’d probably be top of the league but that shows how good Bristol Manor Farm, Street and Buckland Athletic are doing.

“This weekend is our chance to make up some ground on Manor Farm and Buckland because they’re both in the Vase.

“On paper, Sherborne looks like a home win but you can’t take your eye off the ball for a second in this league – we’ll treat it as we would Cadbury Heath or any other game.”