IT WAS mission accomplished for Bracknell Town manager Mark Tallentire on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

The Robins lost 1-0 to Longlevens, but the last lingering fears of relegation from the Hellenic League Premier Division were extinguished as Tuffley Rovers were beaten 1-0 at Thame and so fall through the trap door along with Milton United, Abingdon United and Wokingham & Emmbrook.

“I was brought in to do a job and keep the club up and that has happened, so I am pleased with that,” said Tallentire, who replaced Keith Pennicott-Bowen (inset) in late October.

“It’s disappointing to have lost but mathematically we are safe from going down due to the other result [at Thame] and we can all be pleased with that.”

Tallentire (pictured above) felt his players were “very leggy” as they continue a ridiculously demanding fixture programme with games on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday for two weeks in succession.

“I felt we paid the price on Saturday for the amount of games we are playing,” the Bracknell boss told the News.

“We certainly were not our usual energetic selves – and that is why I felt we lost the game as there was nothing to choose between the two teams.

“I had players out there who could really have done with a rest.”

Tallentire was also not helped by the fact he had to use all three substitutes before half-time with Declan Kirby, George Short and Seb Bowerman forced off the field with hamstring problems.

“That prevented us sending on fresh legs in the second half, but I wouldn’t say we lost the game because of that,” added Tallentire.

“It was a pretty even game. We had chances, but their keeper made some good saves and they [Longlevens] also had one or two chances.

“On another day we might have got a draw.”

The match was in complete contrast to last Thursday when Bracknell hammered local rivals Wokingham & Emmbrook 7-1 in the quarter-finals of the Bluefin Sports Supplementary Cup.

“That was a great performance,” said Tallentire.

“We should have beaten them by a few more when we played them the previous week.

“The 2-1 scoreline did not do us justice. We could easily have won the game 5-1.

“Last Thursday we showed our undoubted belief and passion and that is why it was such a big scoreline. It could easily have been a few more.”

This win, of course, adds to Robins’s hectic fixture schedule as the semi-final away to Didcot Town Reserves or Holyport is due to be played next Monday.
“It means we now have to play Thursday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday,” added Tallentire.

“It’s a scandal really. It would be nice to have a couple of days to put your feet up, but there is nothing you can do about it.

“We still have a lot of games to play and we will be doing our best to win them.”

Bracknell, who were due to play at home to Thatcham last night (Tuesday) entertain Royal Wootton Bassett tomorrow evening (Thursday), followed by their final home league game at Larges Lane on Saturday, this time against Milton.

Then it’s either Didcot Town or Holyport away in the Supplementary Cup on Monday (ko 7.45pm), while next Wednesday evening the Robins visit Henley for a Reading Senior Cup quarter-final tie.