FA VASE: DEVIZES Town secured their passage into the first round proper of the FA Vase with a handsome victory over Premier Division rivals Bishop Sutton at Nursteed Road on Saturday.

Late goals from Jim Griffin, Andy Grange and Steve Richardson gave the scoreline a somewhat flattering look, with Dave Slattery's opener and a Pete Ball own goal putting the hosts in charge at the interval.

Substitute Dan Slattery was harshly dismissed for a second bookable offence in an eventful final five minutes, and manager Ray Baverstock could also be in hot water with the Football Association for his reaction.

The Devizes chief slated the performance of Stonehouse referee Mr Hannis at the final whistle and intends to appeal against Slattery's red card.

"He's said he is going to report me because I've asked him 'why's the lad got sent off?', but never mind.

"The referee does spoil games like that for both sides. It was a shocking refereeing decision, but it costs us because we've now got to go to Soho Square to appeal against it.

"The linesman thought it was a disgrace and it just creates more hassle for us. I thought he got the ball both times he got booked, but should Dan have gone in for the tackle with us 4-1 up at that stage?

"We knew the referee was poor and should have just left him alone. He just wanted to be the centre of attention and chat to people. It was embarrassing."

The early exchanges saw both sides restricted to long-range efforts, but the outcome was rarely in doubt once Dave Slattery sidefooted home Chris Copp's long throw-in on 24 minutes.

Devizes were forced onto the back foot for a spell following Slattery's goal and were fortunate to survive when Garth Cripps headed woefully wide from Sutton skipper Richard Lucas' cross.

But the home side went into the break with a two-goal advantage when Slattery's pass found Dave Godley on the edge of the visitors box.

The former Chippenham striker tricked his way past last defender Ball, but the left back's desperate lunge saw him loop the ball over advancing goalkeeper Paul Williams and into the net.

Matty Goodwin was forced to clear his lines from inside the six yard box when goalkeeper Callum Swann only partially blocked Chris Lake's shot five minutes after the interval, and Devizes stopper did well to tip over a fierce volley from the same player moments later.

Copp and substitute Nick Mooney were both denied by Williams at the other end, but a mistake from the visiting goalkeeper saw Devizes grab their third goal nine minutes from time.

Dan Slattery's long punt forward looked an easy take for Williams, but he fumbled his catch and Richardson was on hand to stab the ball into an empty net.

Dean Maggs pulled a goal back a minute later with a well-taken effort, only for Grange's firm header from Dave Slattery's right wing free kick to restore the hosts' three-goal advantage. Dan Slattery, on as a second half substitute, was given his marching orders on 88 minutes when an innocuous-looking challenge on Lucas saw him collect his second caution. Goalscorer Dave Slattery, Dan's cousin, also received a yellow card for his protest.

But Devizes recovered from the setback and Griffin completed the scoring in style when he hammered home a rising drive from the edge of the box four minutes into stoppage time.

Despite the scoreline, manager Baverstock felt his side had under-performed on the day.

He said: "The game was not too great, to be fair. We played some awful stuff. We were sloppy and ragged, particularly in midfield. We played too deep.

"I saw some positive things in the week against Team Bath, but I didn't see so many positives on Saturday. The game was too open and they could have scored two or three.

"Bishop Sutton worked hard and didn't deserve that result, although they played a bit too much at the back and got caught out a bit.

"But, overall, it is a one-off 90 minutes and it is pleasing to get a decent 5-1 win. We've proved we can score goals if we take our chances."