DEVIZES Town delivered two examples of their superb transformation as they claimed league and cup victories this week.

Tuesday night’s 5-1 hammering of Hengrove Athletic in the first round of the Les Phillips Cup gave an ample demonstration of the strength available to boss Mark Love as the Nursteed Road men booked a secon-d-round tie at Odd Down.

Three days earlier was a different story, however, as Love men showed all their battling qualities to eke out a 1-0 Toolstation league First Division win – their seventh in succession – against all the odds at home to Almondsbury UWE.

Town were forced to play three-quarters of the match with 10 men as goalkeeper Daryll Simms was sent off in the first half after conceding a penalty.

Striker Darren Smart donned the gloves and his first act was to remarkablypush the spot-kick around the post.

The home side rubbed salt into the wounds minutes from full time as skipper Anthony Packer rose to head home the winner.

Speaking after the midweek cup win, Love said: “We’re playing well at the moment and have won eight on the bounce.

“The lads are all working for each other, especially when they haven’t got the ball.

“We’ve got great strength in depth here now. I’ve got 17 good players I can pick from.’’ Assistant James Dore added: “Saturday was a really good win.

“Darren Smart did so well to tip the penalty away – although he hasn’t shut up about it all week since!’’ Tuesday’s cup win was an altogether simpler affair, with Devizes totally dominating throughout.

Packer opened the scoring on 32 minutes after striker Blaine Fitzgerald’s surge into the area and defender Richard Gee powered home a second with a header just before the break.

The game was effectively over as a contest nine minutes into the second half as Fitzgerald's shot was blocked by the arm of defender John Lock and the striker himself despatched the spot-kick with ease.

Hengrove's dreadful defending continued as midfielder Jake Waters rose unchallenged to loop in the fourth and, as Love rang the changes, new signing James Keller stepped off the bench to score the fifth before Lock pulled a goal back with a header.