MELKSHAM Town saw their lead at the top of the Toolstation Premier Division cut after they were held to a goalless draw at Slimbridge.

Second-placed Buckland closed the gap with a big win at home to Shepton Mallet and are now nine points behind with three games in hand.

Melksham were hampered by the weather on their trip to Gloucestershire and although they did have chances to come away with a win, boss Darren Perrin conceded that a point apiece was probably the right outcome.

“It was a difficult afternoon. It was very windy conditions and it was played on a very firm pitch,” said Perrin.

“We had a couple of great chances to win it towards the end. We hit the post through Dan Kovacs and Shaun Benison missed a real gilt-edged chance to win it.

“Overall you’d probably say a draw was the fair result, I think they’d have been really disappointed not to have got anything out of it.

“Credit to Slimbridge, though, it’s nice to see a side really compete in the right spirit.

“They’re a good side and have a really good chance of finishing third in the league and based on Saturday’s performance I think they will do that.”

Melksham have no game this weekend and return to action in a crunch clash away at title rivals Buckland on Saturday, April 25.

After a packed schedule in recent weeks, Perrin is glad to have a bit of time off.

He said: “We are happy to have the rest as we have got a lot of injuries at the moment.

“It gives a chance to get people fit and we’ve played something like nine or ten games in the last month so we could do with a bit of a break.

“We’re not thinking about Buckland yet as they’ve got a couple of games to play before we face them.

“What will be will be but it’s still in our hands. We will have a rest and then come back in next week and prepare for the game.”