MELKSHAM Town hit Clevedon Town for six as they wrapped up all three Premier Division points at Oakfields on Saturday.

Darren Perrin’s men were handed an early advantage when the visitors had Glen Hayer sent off on 26 minutes.

Mike Perrott then put the home side ahead when he latched onto Ben Thomson’s cross, before Gary Higdon made it 2-0 six minutes into time added on.

Striker Sam Jordan then claimed two goals in the space of five minutes as Melksham were four goals to the good by the hour mark.

Joe Stradling added a fifth, before frontman Higdon rounded off the scoring with his second of the game in the 90th minute.

Perrin was delighted with how his side were able to bounce back from the previous Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Wells City.

“It was a good way to respond after the debacle at Wells last Tuesday,” said the Melksham boss.

“I was hurting and so were the players, and credit to them because they responded in the best possible way.

“It was nice to get another three points in our quest to finish in the top four.

“They started very well but we played with a lot of width and we used the extra man very positively.”

Melksham prepare to host Shepton Mallet this weekend, with Perrin keen on avenging a defeat when the two teams last met back in October.

“It was just nice to get the victory and now we move on to Shepton Mallet, who we lost 3-1 to earlier in the season – I haven’t forgotten that,” added Perrin.

“If we win on Saturday, we are going to gain points because first play second-place this week, so it is a great opportunity for us, providing we get our own house in order. But we are under no illusions that on their day, Shepton Mallet are a very good side.

“We can’t influence what goes on elsewhere. You’ve got to give credit to Street, Bristol Manor Farm and Buckland Athletic because we have been relentless, but so have they.

“All we can do is worry about ourselves and then we will be in a position to capitalise when teams drop points.”