“The club is certainly heading in the right direction,” said manager Keith Penicott-Bowen.

The Robins held FA Vase semi-finalists Highworth to a goalless draw last weekend and will be aiming for another point, or even three, in their final fixture against Vase quarter-finalists Ascot United at Larges Lane this Saturday (3pm ko).

With a growing injury-list, manager Penicott-Bowen had several of his talented teenagers on duty against Highworth and they certainly justified their selection.

Elliott Garrington was in the starting line-up at left-back, while William Kyeremeh, Leslie Sackey and George Lock all came off the bench.

And the youngsters could shortly be celebrating as they head the Allied Counties League Southern Division by a point from Binfield, with both sides having two games remaining, “These boys are an important part of the club,” said Penicott-Bowen after Saturday’s game.

“We work with the Allied (Counties League) and Development teams to bring them through to the first team. We want technically good players who want to play football.

“We had 16 and 17 year olds out there, and they stepped up to the challenge. Putting them in the first team is part of their learning experience. There is a big difference to what they are used to. In Allied and Development games they can have one or two touches to play the ball, but in the first team that doesn’t usually happen.

“It was really hard work for one point, but the lads knew what they had to do against a really good Highworth team who had some good players who could have hurt us,” the Robins’ boss added. “There were times this season when we would have lost games like this.” The point left Bracknell in ninth place, which is where they are likely to end the season.

“It will be fantastic to finish in that position, as it shows the club are heading in the right direction,” said Penicott-Bowen. “It is going to be really tough to emulate that next season but it gives us something to aim at and build on.” The Highworth game attracted a crowd of 137 and Bracknell can expect their third three-figure attendance in succession for the derby clash with Ascot this Saturday. And the Bracknell manager is anticipating another hard game: “Ascot are a very, very good team,” he said. “If they had not had long runs in the Vase, I am sure Ascot would have challenged Flackwell for the title. The same can be said of Highworth.

“Jeff (manager Lamb) has got all the right tools, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. He has got all the players for the right places. We will challenge them as hard as we can, but it’s going to be a tough game for us” Bracknell will again be without central defender Andre Kelly and Tom Nugent, who were injured when they accidentally collided with each other in an aerial tussle against Binfield a week ago last Saturday. Nugent needed plastic surgery to repair a deep cut above his eye, while Kelly had braces fitted to his teeth.