MELKSHAM Town netted 13 goals in three days to make safe progress in a pair of cup competitions this week.

Kieran Baggs’ Southern League Division One South side came from behind to advance beyond the FA Trophy first preliminary round on Saturday, beating Slimbridge 3-2 at Thornhill Park.

Town took the lead on 23 minutes as Jon Davies successfully converted a penalty before Slimbridge hit back before half-time.

The hosts then took the lead with just over 15 minutes played in the second half before Luke Ballinger swung momentum back in Melksham’s favour with an equaliser on 70 minutes.

Melksham continued to press in the concluding stages and Neikell Plummer volleyed home in the 89th minute to send Melksham into the first-round proper of the competition where they will face Thatcham Town on October 27 in a replay of last season’s FA Vase quarter-final.

Baggs’ troops then ran riot to reach the Wiltshire Senior Cup second round on Monday, romping to a 10-0 win at Swindon New College.

Boss Baggs said: “It’s nice to have a little break from the league. The FA Trophy is an important competition for the club in terms of finances and it is good to get a win under our belts.

“Conditions weren’t great on Saturday and the wind was very difficult. We conceded two goals on the counter to be 2-1 down but we showed great character to come back.

“We kept plugging away and looked the most likely team to go on and get a winner – and we got one right at the end.

“We look forward to the next round against Thatcham. The game we had against them last season was one of the biggest in the club’s history.

“They came out on top in that one, so we will be looking for a bit of revenge, but it’s not one where either of us will be looking at it as a springboard to the latter stages simply because of the step up in quality to the Trophy from the Vase.

“I think it’s one where both teams will be pleased with the draw to have got someone in their own league.”

Plummer and Ballinger were back on the goal trail against New College on Monday night as they netted four apiece, with Lee Davidson and Nick Evans completing the 10-0 rout.

“Credit to New College, they are a team of teenagers and they never gave up, but I don’t think it was a game that was beneficial to either club,” said Baggs.

“New College probably had their confidence dented from conceding 10 goals, whereas we haven’t really learned too much from making seven or eight changes and still earning a straightforward win.

“The only thing we can take is that we got minutes into people who haven’t played a lot and it helped people who are coming back from injuries.”

Melksham return to league action on Saturday with a trip to Blackfield & Langley.