A CHANGE in approach at Christmas has provided Melksham Town with the opportunity to earn promotion from the Toolstation Premier Division, says manager Kieran Baggs.

Baggs’ men were 12 points adrift of an automatic promotion spot during the festive season, but an inspired run from January onwards has left Melksham preciously close to competing in tier four football next season.

Melksham are due to face third-placed Willand on Wednesday night, a game that would all but secure promotion for Town if they could leave Devon with three points.

But after edging to a 2-1 win against 16th-placed Wellington on Saturday courtesy of Gary Higdon's double, Baggs is taking little for granted.

He said: “We only played Wellington a couple of weeks ago, so we knew what we were up against.

“The lads were a little bit off the pace in the first half, we had so many chances to go ahead before the break.

“It was one of those talks where I had to ask the boys so a little more creativity and passion.

“If you want to be in the mix you’ve got to grind out results when you’re not at your best, and that’s what we did.”

Having the club’s promotion fate on their side of the court is a positive for Baggs.

A win on Wednesday would mean only fifth-placed Buckland could overhaul Melksham in the league table, but they would have to win all of their remaining six games while overcoming a 32-goal difference swing.

“If someone offered me a one-game shootout with Willand before the start of the season to decide who is going up I would’ve took it,” said Baggs.

“We’ve got to give it one last push, hopefully we can get the job done. It’s winner takes all.”