DEVIZES Town manager Darran Walters declared himself content with a point as his side began their 2019 fixtures in Toolstation League Division One with a 1-1 draw at Longwell Green Sports at the weekend.

Ryan Bole gave Devizes the lead at half-time in Bristol, but Courtney Charles restored parity for Longwell in the second half.

Both teams had chances to snatch a winner in the closing stages, but Devizes chief Walters was content to at least travel home with something to show for their efforts.

“Either side could have won it. We both had chances in the second half, but I think a draw was the fair result,” said Walters.

“We were in front at half-time, but then Longwell scored midway through the second half. It was a good battle – as you’d expect in the Western League – and it could have gone either way in the last 20 minutes.

“Both goalkeepers made good saves. Our keeper made some really good ones in the second half and then their keeper probably made the best save of the match right at the end to deny us a winner.

“We are happy with a point as we’d have taken that before the game.”

After a six-match losing run in all competitions in late November and early December, Devizes got back to form with a 3-2 victory at home to local rivals Chippenham Park in their final pre-Christmas fixture and the draw at Longwell made it seven points from their last four games.

The Nursteed Road side are currently 10th in the table and Walters has much higher aims over the second half of the season.

Walters said: “We had a little bit of a struggle for 10 games or so as we had a lot of injuries to key players.

“We had to keep chopping and changing the team, but we’ve got some guys back recently and we seem to have turned a bit of a corner in the last few games.

“At the start of the season we wanted to try to finish in the top five.

“Because of the injuries we’ve had, we have fallen adrift of that a bit, but hopefully we can have a strong second half to the season and claw back that gap.”

Calne Town are the best placed Wiltshire side in fourth in the table and began the new year with a thumping 5-0 victory at home to Radstock Town.

Matthew Jenkins scored twice late on after Stuart Windsor, Charlie Norman and Shannon Pocock had all registered before then.

Corsham Town are one place further back in fifth following a 2-0 win at home to Ashton & Backwell United, which came courtesy of Jamal Chevolleau’s brace.

Warminster Town opened up 2019 with a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Chard Town as George Butler, Jack Miluk and Charlie Walton all hit the back of the net.

Finally, Devon Bryan struck twice but it was not enough to prevent Chippenham Park falling to a 3-2 loss at Keynsham Town.