SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: FED-UP boss Dave Hopkins says his loyalty to the club is being severely tested after being let down by players at the last minute.

He was left with just nine players available on the eve of the home clash with fifth-placed Bridgwater and had to ring around old friends to make up a bench in time for the game.

"I am really fed-up. I've been let down and I'm not happy,'' he said.

"I wonder why I do it. I suppose I keep on going because I love the club.''

He had been expecting one or two players to be missing because of injury but was stunned to find he had barely enough manpower to field a six-a-side team at 10pm on Friday night.

He said: "Nick Mooney rang my assistant Shaun Moffatt on Friday night to say he was going away for the weekend. I've known him for years and he knows you don't do things like that.

"The problem is our season is over and there is probably not going to be any relegation so no one is bothered.''

Some hurried phone calls on Saturday morning enlisted the services of reserve team player Scott Sartin, Jamie Gale, who has not trained for four months, Darren Slattery, who has been out with a knee injury and Nick Taylor, who has also not played since last year.

In spite of his side's scratch nature Hopkins' men gave Bridgwater some early scares and cold have taken the lead when Marcus Wallen's lob went just wide from ten yards out.

But Bridgwater rallied and took the lead two minutes later. Ben Kirk pulled the Devizes defence apart and found Paul Heywood in space to put his side in front.

There looked to be some hope for the home team when Nick Taylor drilled the ball home but the referee ruled he was offside.

Simon Drewitt had a great chance to level as Devizes continued to dictate the play but his sidefooted shot flew over the bar.

At the other end Heywood wasted a chance to put his side 2-0 when he headed well over when unmarked inside the area.

The second half began with Hopkins urging his side forward and Devizes spurned more chances to get back into the game.

Gary Campbell's thunderous left-foot shot from 25 yards flew inches wide with the goalkeeper nowhere.

Wallen then found time inside the box but his neat flick drifted wide of the post.

As the home side pressed forward they left more gaps at the back and it was this that put the game beyond doubt. As a Devizes attack broke down the ball was hacked clear.

Bridgwater's livewire forward Shane Kingston picked it up and ran through to plant the ball past Devizes' Jez Hare.

The home side still went in search of a consolation but it was the visitors who looked more likely to score again.

Bridgwater's Gary Rice could have made the scoreline embarrassing for Devizes but he put his effort wide from ten yards.

Said Hopkins: "You can't fault the effort of the lads who were there. they did their best.

But some of them were arguing with each other after the game.

"I told them they had no complaints because only get six or seven at training and if we are like that we can't be competetive.

"We did well considering the team we had out and Bridgwater are fifth and have a settled side.

"We are pressing for the equaliser and then there's a ball over the top and it is game over.''

Now he is waiting to see who will be available for Saturday's trip to Bridport.

He hopes to have Justin Porter back from injury. "I don't know who else will be there. I just wait until Friday night now to see who we've got.

"It's getting so bad I'm thinking of getting my dad out of retirement.''