NEW Melksham boss Dave Clayton and assistant Justin Messenger started their tenure in style as their in-form side completed a comfortable derby victory.

The duo, whose appointment had been confirmed 24 hours earlier, saw their side dominate virtually all the way through and, just as it seemed Westbury were about to launch a comeback after half time, they shot themselves in the foot.

United actually had the first scoring chance when forward Beau Blakeman hit a fine strike just over the bar early on, but from that point the visitors took full control of the opening period.

David Thompson headed over and Josh Robinson sent a dipping volley inches wide before they scored first on 23 minutes.

Dan Kovacs and the impressive Gary Higdon combined to find Dave Percival free on the right edge of the penalty area and he turned before finishing through Alex Shaftoe’s legs.

It was no surprise when Town made the score 2-0 on 35 minutes when, after a sustained spell of pressure, Higdon crossed from the left to Kovacs who sent a towering header into the top corner.

Westbury had a few attacks as the half drew to a close.

Simon Millard and Blakeman played themselves into the box where keeper Rob Brown claimed the ball and a minute later Millard received the ball from Mark Young before firing it over the bar.

That brief momentum continued after the break as Westbury started at a pace.

Nick Mead had a 20-yard effort well saved by Brown and Millard headed a Young cross beyond Brown and into the goal but it was disallowed for offside.

That was as close as the home team came to threatening Melksham as on 52 Higdon was allowed to run onto a long kick by Brown and, one on one with Shaftoe, he finished with ease.

Believing Higdon had been offside, Young showed dissent towards the officials was immediately red carded.

Down to 10 men and trailing by three goals, United faced a very steep uphill struggle and the closest they came to a consolation was when Matt Mead’s excellent low cross eluded everyone in the box.

Then very late on Wayne Wheeler had a 25 yard free kick saved by Brown.

In between those efforts the visitors came close to scoring again when Higdon crashed a fierce strike against the woodwork and Robinson saw another fine volley dip narrowly off target.

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