NIGEL Tripp has branded his Melksham Town side an "embarrassing disgrace" after being dumped out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday.

The Town boss was seething at his side's inept performance against a Cricklade side, who play two divisions below them and admitted it could have been even worse.

He said: "The scoreline was not a true reflection of the game because by the end they could have scored 10.

"Cricklade deserved everything they got and our players have to take a good long hard look at themselves. We were awful.

"The players have let themselves down, let me down and let the club down and I have made sure they know performances like that are not acceptable."

After picking up just nine points from their first 15 matches of the season, a crop of new signings in November marked an upturn in fortunes at the Conigre. Since then they have earned 13 points from eight matches to climb away from danger in the First Division but Tripp believes Saturday's result has undone all that.

He said: "We are now back at square one. We are out of every competition and it is so disappointing the players did not take this cup seriously.

"They were far too complacent and got taught a lesson from a side two leagues lower than us. I hope they are all embarrassed, because I know I am.

"As a manager it has given me an easy job because no one can have any complaints if they are dropped for the next game."

Cricklade strikers Ian Ross and Ben Carter netted to give their side a deserved two goal cushion before Adam Gingell pulled a goal back for Melksham.

On the stroke of half-time, Ross grabbed his second to restore his side's two goal advantage and, despite John O'Meara's strike soon after the break, Martin Swaddon and Carter added further goals to seal Cricklade's place in the second round.

Melksham were forced into making a few changes, with Lee Burns and Liam Byfield cup-tied and Ryan Trowbridge out through injury, but Tripp refused to use this as an excuse.

He said: "The only players who came out of the match with any credit were Bradley Williams, Adam Gingell and Carl Harfield.

"The display shows the mentality of some of our lot and it has to make me start thinking about whether we are going in the right direction.

"Now the players who want to play have to show what they are made of, because they all have a lot to make up for."