DARREN Perrin thought that Melksham Town were back looking like the side that clinched the Toolstation League Premier Division title last year as they put Barnstaple Town to the sword on Saturday.

Melksham made the long 260-mile round trip to North Devon to take on last season’s First Division champions but the return leg of their journey was filled with merriment after Perrin’s men ran out 4-1 winners.

The Melksham manager labelled his team’s display their best of the season so far and says that his players’ champion performance has set the standard for the remainder of their campaign.

“On Saturday, I’d say that I was absolutely elated. We looked like the side that won the title last year again,” said Perrin.

“Without a doubt, it was our best performance of the season. I was delighted with all of it; our application, our desire, and the football that we played on the day.

“The performance had all the hallmarks of a team that had won the title a year ago and the players deserve all the credit for it.

“It was a long trip home and it took us three-and-a-half hours to get home but it was very noisy on the way back.”

Gary Higdon looped a header home to put Melksham a goal to the good and just before the break, Shaun Benison was penalised for a foul in the box but goalie Rob Brown saved Niall Heeney’s resultant penalty.

Dave Pearse did level things up for Barnstaple in the second period but 15 minutes to go, Ben Thomson rattled the crossbar from a free-kick and Ryan Bennett nodded in the rebound.

Mike Perrott then crossed for Joe Stradling to make it 3-1 before Higdon was shoved in the area to win a spot-kick, which he dispatched at the second attempt after Steven Oliver’s initial save.

Melksham, who are without a fixture this weekend, saw their trip to Welton Rovers on Tuesday postponed due to frost.