GARY Higdon’s nine-minute hat-trick kept Kieran Baggs’ perfect start to life as Melksham Town boss going in the Toolstation Premier Division as they made it three wins from three with a 3-0 success over Odd Down on Monday night.

However, the new Melksham boss was keen to highlight the efforts of his defence, who claimed their second clean sheet of the season, to set the foundations for the early pace-setters.

“I don’t want to get carried away. I know we have played three and won three but the most pleasing thing about Monday night was the performance,” he said.

“Gary Higdon will get the headlines and rightly so, with his hat-trick, he was superb. But defensively, Warren Maidment and Steve Casey were brilliant at the back.

“Michael Perrott also, since the start of the season, has been absolutely outstanding.

“Without them, the performance wouldn’t have existed.

“With the added quality of Chris Allen and Mark Cooper from Chippenham, it gives a good feel around the dressing room.

“They came in and have looked after the younger lads and helped them brilliantly. Credit to them and how professional they have been.

“It’s all about starting well and getting the points on the board and seeing where the run takes us.”

Within 30 seconds of entering the fray, substitute Kane Simpson received a straight red for an off-the-ball incident with Chris Allen for Odd Down, with the visitors having held their hosts to a stalemate with 25 minutes remaining.

However, Melksham took full advantage of the extra man as a cleared corner fell to Higdon just inside the box for him to hit home first time, before heading home his second and completing his hat-trick with 11 minutes left after a well-worked goal with Luke Ballinger.

“It could have been two or three at half time and you go in wondering if it is going to be one of those days,” added Baggs.

“I told the boys to keep patient, keep playing the football they were playing and things will open up.

“They should have gone down to 10 men before they did, but I thought the sending off was a little bit harsh on the lad who came on.

“Five minutes after that, the first goal went in but it was nothing more than we deserved.

“It’s probably one of the quickest hat-tricks he (Higdon) has ever scored, inside nine minutes, but once one went in, the floodgates opened.”

Melksham now travel to Chipping Sodbury Town on Saturday, who Baggs watched on Tuesday night, looking to keep their 100 per cent start in tact but will not be letting their impressive results early on distract them.

“It’s not to be underestimated,” Baggs said.

“There is expectation at Melksham as always but we’ll just keep ticking along and see where we are come Christmas.”