MANAGER Steve Burns was pleased to revitalise Melksham Town Reserves’ Wiltshire League Premier Division title push with a 4-0 win on the road at Wroughton.

Melksham are second in the table with a game in hand on league leaders Ludgershall Sports, but had picked up just a single point from their two previous post-Christmas fixtures.

Although his team are still five points adrift of top spot, Burns says it was crucial to get back to winning ways to ensure they stay in the mix as the season heads into the home straight.

“It was one of the best games we have played for a long time,” said Burns.

“I don’t think we’ve been playing that well since Christmas, so it’s nice to get a result like that.

“We’ve dropped points recently which has let teams below us into it but we are still there or thereabouts and we’ve got to look to push on from this result now.”

The game was all but sewn up before half time, with Melksham taking a convincing 3-0 lead into the change of ends before wrapping up the win with a fourth goal in the second period.

Nick Ridout led the charge for Melksham by bagging a brace of goals, while Emilio Menghini and Ashley Caws also hit the back of the net for the visitors.

Burns added: “It was a very good performance and a very good result away from home.

“Conditions were not great and that made life difficult for both teams but we just knuckled down and got on with it.

“We scored early on and got a second goal pretty soon afterwards. I think it was 3-0 after about half an hour and it was quite comfortable from there on in as that third goal sort of knocked the wind out of them.

“They pushed us back at the start of the second half without really creating too much.

“After that we got back in control and were able to make it 4-0. It was never really in doubt from 3-0 but the fourth goal killed them off.”

Ludgershall continue to set the pace at the top but were pushed all the way by struggling Corsham Town Reserves before eventually holding on for a 2-1 home win.

Third-placed FC Chippenham Youth lost ground after a 3-3 draw against visiting Malmesbury Victoria and are now level on points with Shrewton United in fourth after they beat Supermarine Sports 4-2.

Westbury United Reserves are off the bottom thanks to a 3-0 success at Sarum Youth, and there were also convincing wins on the road for Trowbridge Wanderers and Wilts Calne Town over Devizes Town Reserves and Wootton Bassett Town Dev respectively.