MELKSHAM Town Reserves manager Steve Burns is full of festive cheer as his side head into the Christmas break right near the top of the Premier Division tree.

Second-placed Melksham notched up their tenth victory of the season last weekend with a 3-2 victory over Westbury United Reserves and are still breathing down the neck of league leaders Ludgershall Sports, who are just two points ahead.

Burns’ men pulled off a league and cup double last season, winning the now-defunct Division One, as well as the Junior KO Cup, and the Melksham boss is thrilled to see his team in the hunt again.

“If someone had offered us this position going in to Christmas, we obviously would have taken it,” said Burns.

“We’ve done well and the onus is now on us to push forward in the New Year and challenge for the title.

“There’s been a real feel-good feeling at the club for a little while now and it’s a nice place to be.”

After falling a goal behind at bottom-of-the-table Westbury, Adam Young levelled things up before Sean Fordham made it 2-1.

The home side did restore parity but Jordan Evans grabbed the match-winner early in the second period.

Melksham boss Burns said: “I said to the Westbury manager (Jason Edwards) that I was surprised that they were bottom of the table – we knew they were going to be a decent side and they’d be better than where they were in the table.

“We had to come from behind but we went 3-2 up just after half-time and we were well in control for the whole of the second half.”

Elsewhere, second-from-bottom Marlborough Town were unable to do Melksham a favour as they were beaten 2-1 by table-toppers Ludgershall.

Vale of Pewsey notched up their third win in a row as they beat Wootton Bassett Town Development 4-1.

Craig Simmons netted a brace whilst Mark Field and Jake Kinderman were also on target for Vale.