MELKSHAM Town are the early pacesetters in the Toolstation League First Division after Gary Higdon scored four times in their dominant victory at Welton Rovers on Tuesday evening.

The Melksham striker had a hat-trick inside 27 minutes, adding a lobbed effort and a header to the strike that had Adam Young’s side ahead after just three minutes.

Hosts Welton pulled a goal back before the break through Andy Keen but Higdon got his fourth of the evening shortly after half-time before new-boy and fellow frontman Dave Percival rounded off the scoring late on.

Melksham’s healthy goal difference sees them top the table, level on points with Westbury United and Elmore.

On Saturday, Higdon and defender James Ponsford netted in a 2-2 draw with Wellington.

Young’s men host Almondsbury UWE in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup this weekend.