JAMIE Walters’ early strike was enough to secure Devizes Town all three points in Tuesday night’s hard-fought Wiltshire derby away at Chippenham Park.

The Nursteed Road outfit had lost their previous two Toolstation First Division fixtures, including a 2-0 defeat at home to Portishead Town on Saturday, but were able to bounce back against a Park side sitting second from bottom in the table.

Darran Walters’ men broke the deadlock inside five minutes at Hardenhuish Park but after that, it was a case of a turning in a stubborn defensive performance and the win, which moves Devizes up to eighth, owed in no small part to the heroics of Matt Tilley in goal.

Manager Walters said: “It was a tough match. We’d lost the last two games and I didn’t want to make it three on the bounce so it was vital that we got back to winning ways and luckily we were able to do that.

“We scored after five minutes and we hit the post too but it was only 1-0 at half-time.

“Playing down the slope in the first half, only being 1-0 up was always going to be tough to defend – I’d have much preferred 2-0. I knew we were going to have to defend well in the second half and we did that, and our keeper made two great saves too.

“We were disappointing on Saturday and we got what we deserved, which was nothing. Too many players didn’t turn up.

“We have struggled in front of goal in the last few weeks, which has never been a problem for us before, so to get a goal in midweek and keep a clean sheet too is pleasing.”

Park were also second best on Saturday as they fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Bishops Lydeard, while Calne Town and Corsham Town were beaten by that same scoreline on the road at Radstock Town and league leaders Wellington respectively.

There was better news for Malmesbury Victoria as Krystian Hext got the only goal of the game to earn them 1-0 win at Hengrove Athletic.

Devizes are on the road again this Saturday as they travel to Bishops Sutton, with Malmesbury also travelling to Bishops Lydeard.

Calne host Welton Rovers, Corsham are at home to Keynsham Town, while Park are without a game.

Calne are due to host Sydenhams League side Laverstock & Ford in the Wiltshire Senior Cup quarter-finals tonight.