Melksham Town 0, Welton Rovers 0

KELVIN Highmore threatened to quit as Melksham manager on Saturday night after what he described as his most humilating day in football.

A demoralising 5-0 defeat by Bridgwater sparked crisis talks with chairman Mick Perrin which went on well into the night.

Speaking after Monday's stalemate with Welton at the Conigre, Highmore said he could still walk away if results did not improve.

"I'm going on holiday on October 24, and if we don't turn things around by then maybe it's time for a change.

"I don't know what I would do with myself on a Saturday afternoon but I hope it doesn't come to that. If I can see a marked improvement in that time I will be happy to carry on."

Saturday's mauling was the second time Melksham have conceded five or more goals this season, after they were hammered 7-2 away at Hallen.

Highmore said: "I have never felt so humiliated in all my life. I was ready to walk away.

"We were pathetic all across the pitch. It was just schoolboy defending and I've never seen anything like it in my life.

"I had a long chat with the chairman afterwards. I asked him: Where do we go from here?'"

A battling 2-1 win at Frome remains Melksham's only league victory to date, but Monday night's performance against Welton left much cause for optimism.

The home side dominated from start to finish against a team that last month thrashed league leaders Corsham 6-0 at the Southbank.

Highmore said he was feeling far more upbeat after watching his players scrap for every loose ball in front of the home fans.

"How we did not get three points tonight I do not know. The players ran themselves into the ground for me," he said.

"I though Leigh Burke and Tim Eatough were outstanding in midfield. They worked their socks off and deserved more than they got."

Burke was sentenced to an early bath for collecting two yellow cards, a decision which left Highmore fuming.

"It was an absolute disgrace. The ball was there to be won and Leigh won it - none of their players went berserk about the tackle.

"I keep harking on about it but I thought the referee was awful, not just for us but for both sides."

Welton also had a man sent off in a combative affair which saw six yellow cards.

Danny Holdcroft was a virtual spectator in the Melksham goal but his opposite number Tristan Westlake had a busy evening.

The Welton stopper was beaten after 44 minutes but Andy Norris spared his blushes with a goalline clearance from Mike Perrott.

Josh Brigham lashed a 25-yard strike against the post and Wayne Thorne saw his header turned away by Westlake as the hosts poured forward after the break.

Luke Ballinger was guilty of missing the game's best chance when he guided Brigham's long-range pass over the crossbar.

Substitute Ben Thompson had a chance to steal the points in stoppage time but he shot wide with his first touch of the game.

Melksham Town 0, Bridgwater 5

FORMER Chippenham Town midfielder Ben Kirk was Melksham's tormentor on Saturday.

Kirk scored twice as Bridgwater ran riot at the Conigre.