BRACKNELL Town moved up to fifth place in the Uhlsport Hellenic League with a 3-0 win away to Brackley Town Saints on Saturday – and looked well poised to climb even higher.

The Robins, unbeaten in the Premier Division since the middle of August, were completing a quick double over Saints, having hammered them 9-0 at home only 10 days previously.

On that occasion, it was one of those days when virtually every shot smacked against the back of the net with even Bracknell admitting the scoreline did not reflect the game.

Mark Tallentire’s men certainly came up against much stiffer opposition at St James Park, although they again dominated the match and must have enjoyed 75 to 80 per cent possession in the first half.

It was a lesson in moving the ball around with pace and accuracy, and the young Saints, aged between 16 and 20, will have learned from playing against a side of Bracknell’s quality.

Robins have been fortunate enough to keep almost a settled team and it is the understanding between the players, both on and off the ball, that is being reflected in their consistent performances.

However, their supporters should not be getting too carried away at the moment, as Robins will be tested to the full this month with games against sixth-placed Tuffley, third club Thame United, who are currently unbeaten in the league, and table-topping Thatcham.

Bracknell were without leading scorer Adam Cornell due to a groin injury, so Joe Grant joined TJ Bohane up front and in the early stages he saw his header rebound back off the underside of the crossbar.

Grant saw another effort pushed away by the keeper for a corner, while Kensley Maloney was also not far away from scoring.

Although Carl Davies was forced to put in two important challenges to deny a home forward a shooting opportunity, it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would score.

The opener came on 40 minutes when Grant supplied a cool finish to place the ball past the onrushing keeper, Dan Farrell, and four minutes later it was 2-0.

Maloney was brought down 25 yards out to the right of the goal and Bohane curled a trademark free-kick over the bar into the top left-hand corner with the ball going in off the crossbar.

Knowing that they had conceded seven goals in the second half at Bottom Meadow, Brackley offered stiffer resistance this time around to avoid another heavy defeat and they continued to play good football.

But Bracknell always looked more dangerous in front of goal and Bohane, set up by Seb Bowerman, missed a golden opportunity, screwing the ball wide of the far post when well placed.

It took them until the 87th minute to add a third goal. Substitute James Suarez sent Khalid Senussi away down the left flank and his low cross was turned home at the far post by Hancock.

Bracknell will be looking for three more points at Tuffley Rovers this Saturday (3pm).