DEVIZES Town manager Darran Walters is hoping that his players haven’t allowed their confidence to be dealt a mortal blow by their cup humbling at the hands of county rivals Bradford Town last weekend.

Devizes travelled to Trowbridge Road for a first-round Les Phillips Cup tie but were sent packing from the competition after being hammered 5-0 by their Toolstation League Premier Division opponents.

That defeat brought Walters’ men back down to earth with a bump following back-to-back First Division victories over Chippenham Park and Bishop Sutton but the Nursteed Road boss admits that his team were always up against it against the might of Bradford and is keen to draw a line under their heavy defeat.

“The players all know Bradford and they all know how good they are – we knew that they’d be better than us,” said Walters.

“I didn’t want to go there and get a hammering but we conceded early doors. It was 1-0 for the rest of the first half and at 1-0, you’ve always got a chance, but they ran away with it after getting their second goal.

“It’s a shame but the important thing is that we don’t get too down about this. We’ve got to draw a line under it.

“It was a tough game for us but we’ve got to get back to it as soon as we can.”

“We had a couple of wins in the league before the Bradford game and we’ve got a couple of games coming up in the league that we thing that we can win.

“We want to get a few points from those and try to push up the table – we want to be in a better position that we are now at Christmas.”

Neikell Plummer starred with a hat-trick as Devizes were put to the sword.

The Bradford man slammed a shot home in the first period before Aaron Cornwall crossed for him to head home after the break.

Neikell Plummer then completed his treble after Gio Wrona and Dominic Holver combined to set him up before Elam Plummer teed up Holver to make it 4-0.

Debutant Matt Morris then wrapped up the tie with Bradford’s fifth of the afternoon.

Devizes are currently 18th in the First Division table and will go looking to get back on an even keel when they make the trip to Ashton & Backwell United next weekend, with goalkeeper Matt Tilley returning.