Highmore questions commitment after defeat (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Highmore questions commitment after defeat

4:29pm Thursday 22nd December 2005 in Football

MELKSHAM Town manager Kelvin Highmore is looking to freshen up his squad after questioning his players' application during the opening half at Barnstaple Town on Saturday.

Highmore said his players were "lethargic" and the performance was "not acceptable" as his team shipped four goals for the second game in a row.

The manager said: "You have to wonder, with it being holiday time, whether any of the players went out the night before or whether it's coincidental. That's just things going through my head.

"We conceded four goals in midweek as well and I was angry with how we conceded those goals, but on Saturday I could not have any complaints as three of them were great finishes.

"Another day they could have been picking the ball up from the road behind the ground but their shots just flew in.

"We need an injection. We are getting to the place where there may be a little bit of complacency.

"We are trying to bring in two or three players and a seven-day approach will be going in this week for a defender. I am loyal to my players and I won't change them when we are winning, but we are losing."

Melksham had raced into an early leads as Nick Ridout cut inside and drove a long cross into the box. Nick Mooney got in front of his marker to steer the ball home.

But three minutes later Barnstaple, playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation, equalised as the Melksham defence let the ball bounce from a throw in, a Barnstaple player putting their volley high into the top corner from 12 yards.

Barnstaple scored a fortunate goal on 11 minutes. Josh Brigham raced back and stopped a goalbound effort on the line only to hook it away at Gareth Evans, with the ball hitting the goalkeeper's knee and flying in.

Barnstaple sealed the win through a 20-yard spectacular volley which rocketed into the top corner before a final goal in the second half completed the rout.