SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: TEENAGE striker Justin Lisle grabbed a second half equaliser as ten-man Devizes secured only their second away point of 2003 at Crown Field.

The bottom-of-the-table visitors had assistant manager Andy Coombes dismissed for foul and abusive language on the hour, but battled on to earn a share of the spoils.

Devizes boss Dave Hopkins has seen an marked improvement in team spirit since he took charge a month ago and felt his side produced another performance full of commitment on Saturday.

He said: "It was a good point, considering we only had ten men for the last 30 minutes of the game.

"We started with a 4-3-3 formation and Marcus Wallen made his first start for us. He did very well. Jimmy Griffin played again and did a good job in midfield along with Gary Campbell. Graham Gaiger came back in and carried on playing as well as he has been doing at the back. I think that is our first away point in a long time and I couldn't fault the effort again on Saturday."

Mid-table Keynsham took the lead after 12 minutes when Paul Hirons flicked a header past Warren Jackson from Ryan Nicholls' cross.

Matt Tilley came close to increasing the hosts' advantage on the half hour, but sent a free kick just wide.

Hopkins was started on the bench due to a foot injury, but was forced to play the second half after an injury to left back Stuart Skinner.

Alex Laing threatened the Devizes goal with another free kick, but the away side equalised when Lisle latched onto Jackson's long punt forward and lobbed keeper Keith Bailey.

Coombes then saw red following a dubious free kick award and Keynsham should have rubbed salt into the Devizes wounds with 15 minutes left, Hirons slicing the ball wide with the goal gaping. Hopkins was disappointed to see long-serving Coombes receive his first-ever red card.

He said: "I wouldn't have called it foul and abusive language. The referee didn't have a particularly good game, but it was a schoolboy error from Andy Coombes. He's played Western League football for a lot of years and should have known better. Not only has he let himself down, he's let the team down as well.

"Keynsham were so square at the back and, if we'd had 11 men on the field, then we'd have won the game."

Devizes bring down the curtain on a turbulent season when they travel to fellow crisis club Dawlish on Saturday.

The game kicks off at 12.30pm in order to finish before the Screwfix League's 3pm deadline, and Hopkins believes his side should have been spared such an early start.

He said: "I can't understand why they couldn't extend the deadline to 5pm. We work all week and then have to get up on Saturday at 7am in order to get to Dawlish in time.

"But we are getting a minibus and will have a few drinks on the way back. Hopefully Saturday will give us the chance to gain our first away win of the season."