SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: FORMER Chippenham Town skipper Lee Burns made a triumphant return to Wiltshire as his Bath City Reserves side proved too strong for relegation-haunted Devizes Town at Nursteed Road.

Burns' men took the points thanks to goals either side of the interval and the result leaves the home side hovering perilously above the drop zone with just 12 games to play.

Manager Pete Tripp called for more passion from his men following their meek surrender in the FA Vase a week previously, and was able to draw some positives from their display on Saturday.

He said: "We didn't do too badly. The performance was quite good and the effort shown a lot better than the Maldon game.

"Everyone will look at this result as another bad defeat, but it wasn't that bad and we certainly didn't deserve to concede twice.

"The wind penned us back in the first half, but we didn't look in much trouble. Then they scored a scrappy goal before half time and psychologically it became and uphill battle.

"Losing becomes a habit in the same way winning does and we knew we had to score two to win after that. If we'd held them to 0-0 at half time, who knows what would have happened?"

Tripp handed a Devizes debut to midfielder Richard Clarke and was impressed by the former Melksham man's performance.

He said: "We have been struggling a bit in midfield and he came in and did well. I've got to be pleased with his performance. Dave Hopkins, our captain, was absolutely outstanding at the back and was a cut above the rest."

Bath fielded a strong side and included experienced non-league striker Adrian Foster in their line-up.

The visitors served up some decent football on a heavy surface and took the lead with a scruffy goal from Simon Gilbert seven minutes before half time.

A Craig Hopkins corner fell to Tony Quoi and his first time effort deceived a clutch of players in a crowded penalty area before being deflected into the net by the gleeful Gilbert.

Devizes refused to lie down, but again failed to provide front players Dave Godley and Justin Lisle with sufficient service and fell further behind in the 67th minute.

Former Devizes transfer target Simeon Allison broke clear on the right and, when the home defence failed to clear his low cross, the predatory Foster made no mistake.

Despite the hosts' improved performance, Saturday's result has done little to lift the gloom at Nursteed Road.

Said Tripp: "Morale is very, very low and that makes it difficult for the players. Bath have had the two bits of luck on Saturday that tend to go against you when you're down there in the table."

Vase hero Godley started up front in place of 'flu victim Neil Dix, but has now left the club to join Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Chippenham Town.

Godley begins a 42-day ban on Monday following his dismissal in the reverse fixture against Bath in December, and will miss the rest of the season as a result.

Said Tripp: "Dave is now trying to bed himself in somewhere else for next season. His season is over after Saturday in any case.

"He's done alright for us. We've shaken hands and you can't blame players for going. While we were still in the Vase we had more chance of holding onto them."

Tripp's side face Wiltshire League Trowbridge Town in the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday, with the prize a semi-final tie against First Division Calne.

She said: "They'll fancy their chances. They are doing well in their league and will come to try and have a go at us.

"We will be trying hard to win, but have nothing to gain and everything to lose. If we win, it is expected, but if we lose it's a major scalp for them.

"I think it will be a tight game and will all come down to which side wants it more on the day."