Screwfix Direct League: Calne Town's woeful away form continued at Silver Street on Saturday, where they were comprehensively beaten by First Division newcomers Willand Rovers.

The defeat leaves Paul Rankin's side without a point from seven games on their travels this term and just two points clear of Warminster Town at the foot of the table.

Rankin was without the services of ten members of his first team squad for the trip to North Devon, including the injured Craig Tuck, Jon Bryant, Matt Peters and Julian Alexander.

The 39-year-old manager was again forced to play himself, alongside five members of the club's youth team, but the lowly visitors matched their hosts until a calamitous five-minute spell before the break.

Willand went in front on 40 minutes when the Calne back line failed to deal with a Simon Hill cross and Jason Reeves was left with the simple task of heading home.

Things worsened for the visitors on the stroke of half time when Willand new boy Steve Ebdy latched onto a long ball and beat two Calne defenders to score.

Lively Calne substitute Peter Temple and Stuart Skinner both saw chances go begging in the second period and the home side wrapped up the points two minutes from time when Ebdy bagged his second following a cross by Russell Jee.

Rankin again pointed to a lack of availability as a major factor in his side's defeat, but questioned the commitment of some members of his playing squad.

He said: "It is all about availability of players and if myself and Mark Jefferies, who are Bristol and Bath-based, can make it then there is no reason the players can't.

"At 39 years of age, I have played in the last three games and haven't picked up an injury. I think sometimes it is more convenient to have an injury than play for a losing side."

But Rankin was encouraged by the displays of some of his younger players at Willand.