MATT Bown admits he wants his United side to start picking up points sooner rather than later.

The Meadow Lane outfit are without a win in four games and, apart from two thumping Wiltshire derby successes over Chippenham Park and Corsham Town, have struggled in their last 10 league matches.

Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by second-from-bottom visitors Keynsham risks sucking Bown’s men back down towards the depths of the table – a situation the manager is determined to see rectified as quickly as possible.

Bow said: “We needed something from the game, but we’ll keep plugging away.

“I knew it would be a tough old job but we don’t want to get dragged down.

Ryan Ashwood bundled home the winner in the final 20 minutes on Saturday and Bown, whose side go to Welton Rovers tomorrow, said: “We’re still conceding goals late on – whether it’s a lack of concentration I don’t know.

“We had a bit of a scratch team out and you had two teams trying really hard for a result and there wasn’t much action at each end.

“We didn’t really test their keeper as much as I would have liked, but we were half-decent in the first half, certainly better than the previous week.

Dan Hurkett (broken arm), Ryan Earney (broken finger), Simon Millward (unavailable) and David Whyte (chest infection) will miss tomorrow’s game.

Derek Graham believes Saturday’s 1-0 reverse at Wells has highlighted some promising signs for struggling Warminster Town.

The Red and Blacks’ new management team of Andy Crabtree and Graham are still waiting for their first victory after Jamie Howson scored the only goal.

But Graham said: “To be fair, we had quite a reduced team out because we had five or six players missing.

“We went there and set up with two banks of four and tried to get a result and we nearly did it.

“They got their goal, but they had to clear a chance off the line from Nathan Farquarson late on too.

“It was a shame. If we could have got the draw, it would lifted everyone, but we’ll take it from there and look to move forward.’’

Graham and Crabtree have assessed the strength of their squad during the games against Bradford last Wednesday and Wells and will look to make gradual changes to the set-up.

Graham added: “All we want to do this year is stay up, then look at bringing some more players in and having a really good pre-season to try to finish in the top half of the table next year.

“We want to do it because it’s our local team and we enjoy it.’’

Paul Shanley believes Bradford Town proved to themselves they will be able to cut it at Premier Division level should the Trowbridge Road club be promoted this season.

The Toolstation First Division leaders stunned top-flight Bristol Manor Farm 3-2 in the Les Phillips Cup on Tuesday with strikes from Jake Hiscocks, Sam Jordan and Tom Welch putting them three up before a late revival from the home side.

Shanley said: “They (Farm) were a very good side and they’ll definitely finish in the top three.

“It was a good battling performance and that’s how far we’ve come.

“We went down there and proved we are capable of competing against a side from a higher level.

“We have a lot of lads who have been at the club for a long time and they proved to themselves that they were capable.’’

Bradford host Barnstaple Town, the only side to take any league points off them so far this season, tomorrow.

Darren Perrin hopes four points from back-to-back Conigre appointments with Longwell Green Sports on Saturday and Winterbourne United on Monday will ensure he can revise his Melksham Town's targets for this season.

After not winning any of their first seven games, a run which heralded the departure of Dave Clayton and arrival of Perrin, Town have won six of their last 10 in the league.

Goals from Gary Higdon (penalty) Shaun Benison and a Will Stead screamer sealed last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Bishop Sutton and Perrin said: “The league table certainly looks a bit healthier than it did six or seven weeks ago.

“If we could get at least four points from the next two games I’d like to think we wouldn’t be looking a a relegation battle, which was obviously the remit when I arrived.

“It’s very important, with plans for a new stadium close to going to planners and we would have to start thinking about revising our targets for the season.’’ Perrin has a seven-day approach in for Frome Town’s Dean Flockton, who lives in Melksham.

Matt Cooper and Tom Stocks are suspended for Saturday’s game, but available for Monday.

Corsham Town’s interest in the Les Phillips Cup was ended on Tuesday night as they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Premier Division opponents.

Striker Dave Pollinger scored both goals for the home side as Trevor Rawlings’ men bowed out.

It was a similar story on Saturday as Corsham lost 2-0 at Chard Town in the league.

Sam Clark and Oscar Latis were on target for the home side, in what was Corsham’s third defeat in their last five Toolstation First Division games.

Rawlings’ men host Roman Glass St George in the league on Saturday.

There was frustration for Trowbridge Town on Saturday as their Wiltshire League Premier Division clash against Wilts Calne Town at Woodmarsh was postponed because part of the pitch was waterlogged.

Boss Mike Alford said: “There's a problem in the top penalty box that simply won’t drain and has a puddle, resulting in the ground being too soft and dangerous

“After consultation with the league it was agreed that long term it was best to postpone the game.

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