WESTBURY United remain deep in relegation trouble after going down to their heaviest Premier Division defeat of the season at the hands of Paulton Rovers.

The home side handed starts to new signings Andy Catley, who arrived last week from Chippenham Town, and Graham Colebourne and both were denied by Westbury goalkeeper Mark Batters in the opening 15 minutes.

Former Weston-super-Mare midfielder Tariq Whitcliffe scored the first of the game's nine goals on 20 minutes when Batters allowed his weak effort to slip through his hands.

Steve Perkins equalised for the Wiltshire side before the interval, but Westbury found themselves behind once more when Paul Tovey scored a minute into the second half.

Richard Thomas set up Colebourne for the hosts' third goal on the hour and made it four ten minutes later. Colebourne grabbed his second on 72 minutes, before the visitors reduced arrears with a penalty 60 seconds later.

Whitcliffe scored his second with five minutes to go and Adam Fricker's cross-cum-shot curled in to complete the rout on the stroke of full time.

Westbury included new signing from Odd Down Toby Colebourne up front, but were without key men Daniel Dominey and Ben Hardiman.

Manager Derek Graham felt the fact his side had been without a number of first team regulars had proved crucial.

He said: "We had to make four changes from last Friday and I was forced into two substitutions, one at half-time and one just afterwards.

"You can't knock Paulton, they got the ball in the box and, when Matty Burton went off, that was always going to be a problem.

"I went to see them a few weeks ago and they didn't look likely to score. It is just typical they had to go and change that against us."

Westbury are without a game until they host Welton Rovers January 5, but Graham is confident his side's fortunes will improve in 2002.

He said: "Our season will start again in January. We will surprise a few people, I'm sure."