SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: DEVIZES Town were left to rue two goalkeeping errors from stand-in Daryll Smith as they were hammered 4-0 at home by fifth placed Backwell United on Tuesday night.

The hosts trailed by a single goal at the break but Smith, standing in for the absent Paul Thompson, was at fault as the visitors established a three-goal lead in the second half.

Backwell completed the rout with a late fourth as Devizes made it two defeats in four days following their 2-1 reverse at Yeovil Town Reserves on Saturday.

The double setback dashed Devizes' hopes of returning to the Premier Division's top six and manager Brian Newlands was disappointed with Tuesday night's display against Backwell.

He said: "We gave away four bad goals and it was a poor performance all round.

"Daryll kept six clean sheets in eight games for us last season but, if the goalkeeper makes a mistake, then it is usually punished with a goal. That's just the nature of the beast."

Defeat was hardly the best preparation for Devizes' testing trip to third placed Dawlish Town on Saturday. Said Newlands: "They are unbeaten at home, but there is no reason we shouldn't be the first side to beat them at their place."