DEVIZES are staring down the relegation barrel after another sorry showing against lowly rivals Barnstaple.

The cash-strapped strugglers slumped to a 4-0 defeat in Devon leaving them rock bottom in the Premier Division.

Manager Pete Tripp admitted that off-field problems are beginning to hamper his side's performance.

Chairman Chris Belcher remains at the helm, despite intense speculation that he will quit, but the boardroom rumblings are not helping Devizes' survival fight.

Tripp confirmed: "We have tried to protect the lads from the off-the-field situation but it's starting to get through to them and that's a bad sign.

"We're not down yet, but it's not in our hands.

"We've got to start winning and we need Welton to slip up too."

First-half goals from Kevin Squire, Tom Marsh and Ross Middleton put the hosts 3-0 up at the break and Squire added a fourth two minutes into the second half before Devizes had Ben Hardman sent off to compound their misery.

The defeat leaves Tripp's men three points behind Welton at the foot of the table.

Melksham's recent resurgence continued as Robbie Lardner's team were impressive 3-0 winners at Keynsham.

Andy Sandell's third-minute penalty gave Melksham the perfect start.

Matty Bown and Gary Banks cemented maximum points.

Calne's dip in form continued with a 3-2 defeat at Chard in the First Division.

Danny Wilson fired the home side ahead on 29 minutes, only for Martyn Wheeler to level within 60 seconds.

An acrobatic Wilson volley made it 2-1 and Rob Davis headed Chard further ahead by half time.

Glen Armstrong pulled one back from the spot after the interval, but Calne were unable to stage a comeback.

Corsham were beaten 1-0 by Bristol Manor Farm, with a stoppage-time penalty doing the damage.

Former Chippenham Town hero Mark Cutler was felled in the box on 92 minutes and his old Bluebirds teammate Nick Tiley scored the spot kick.