MELKSHAM Town boss Kieran Baggs says the pressure remains firmly on their promotion rivals as the Toolstation League Premier Division's top four lock horns this week.

After their 5-1 win over Clevedon Town on Saturday, Melksham closed the gap on second place in the table to two points.

Bradford Town, who currently occupy second, dropped points at home to Hengrove Athletic last weekend, while fourth-placed Willand Rovers saw their game called off.

On Wednesday night top-of-the-league Street travel to Trowbridge Road to face the Bobcats, while Melksham hit the road to face Willand.

While Baggs admits it is a huge game for his troops, he says the pressure rests with his promotion rivals.

The Melksham manager also reiterated to his players that their season will not be not defined by their midweek result.

“You can only look after yourself, you have to be professional and make sure you put in a performance which means you don’t slip up,” said Baggs, who believes Willand could lack momentum when the two meet.

Melksham led 3-0 at the break against Clevedon before adding another two in the second half. Gary Higdon was in the goals yet again as he notched a hat-trick, while Francois Allen and Jake Brown also scored.“Clevedon are a good side and they had some players who have played in the Football League so they will be disappointed with their league position.

“We hit them hard on the counter attack in difficult, windy conditions and I think we were one of the few games that went ahead in Bristol.

“The win didn’t do any harm with the goal difference either, that could prove to be vital at the end of the season.

“It was a good day all round. We have to treat the Willand game like a big game, but the pressure is on Bradford really because they are above us in the table.

“If they slip up, they have to be prepared that we are going to swoop in and that is what it is like at the moment.

“It’s up to them to keep up their form and it is up to us to capitalise if and when they do slip up.

“If you look at Willand’s form they have been a little bit indifferent over the last few weeks and I think that will come down to the games they’ve had called off.

“We have to go down there with a full squad and make sure we turn up in the right frame of mind.”

Baggs was taking a full squad down to the midweek clash, but says midfielder Dave Thompson, who was sent off on Saturday will miss this weekend’s game with Hengrove Athletic.