DEREK Graham thinks that his Warminster Town side have tightened up at the back, despite conceding three goals in double-time in last weekend’s loss to Ashton & Backwell United.

Tom Welch had given Warminster an early lead but a ten-minute spell where Graham and Andy Crabtree’s men fell 3-1 behind left the home side with a mountain to climb at Weymouth Street.

Top-scorer Jack Miluk did reduce the deficit but Warminster couldn’t find an equaliser as they slipped to their seventh defeat of the season.

“We started off really well on Saturday and you thought ‘it’s going well’ but then we had a ten-minute spell where we conceded three times,” said joint-manager Graham.

“We gave away one really soft goal and then they won a dubious penalty. A long ball got played over the top of everyone and Sam Worsfold and their striker have both turned at the same time and run into each other but the referee gave a pen for it.

“We did concede three on Saturday but in the two games before that, we’ve only conceded the one goal – we have tightened things up at the back.

“We’ve brought young Marcus Brown into the defence and he’s made a big difference in there.

“Now we’re just struggling to score goals at the other end.

“We got Louis Sparey back on Saturday and then he went off with another injury, so we are a little bit light on strikers. Sam Babtunde has also gone back to uni and he doesn’t drive so we’re just waiting to see if he can figure something out for the future.”

Striker Otis Young, who has only made one substitute appearance for Warminster since joining from Trowbridge Wanderers, returns from suspension at Chard Town tomorrow.

Westbury are held to draw

WESTBURY United were forced to settle for a point on Wednesday night as they were held to a goalless draw at county rivals Calne Town.

Adam Collington’s men had the lion’s share of the goalscoring opportunities, with Mark Young whipping a strike nor far off-target midway through the first period.

Calne’s Aaron Hopkins and Glenn Armstrong both threatened but the home side were forced into some last-ditch defending time and again as Westbury piled on the pressure, but Collington’s men couldn’t find a breakthrough.

Last weekend, United slipped to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at struggling Portishead.

Josh White netted a brace for the Somerset hosts whilst Daniel Elson was also on target as Westbury became the first side to lose to Portishead this season.

Collington’s men are currently 13th in the Toolstation League First Division and take on sixth-placed Almondsbury UWE at Meadow Lane tomorrow.

MORE SPORTS NEWS, PICTURES AND REACTION IN THIS FRIDAY’S WILTSHIRE TIMES. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WTSport