BRACKNELL Town boss Mark Tallentire admits Terence Bohane has proved to be an even better player than he thought he was when bringing him to Larges Lane early in the season.

Bohane scored a hat-trick, his second in successive matches, as the Robins hammered Highmoor Ibis 6-0 on Saturday.

The win also took them to the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League table for the first time this campaign and, on current form, must be considered favourites for the title.

Following two defeats in their first three league games, Tallentire made his move for Bohane, a proven scorer who at the time had just joined Royal Wootton Bassett from Highworth.

Since Bohane made his debut, the Robins have been beaten only once and this latest win was their 12th in successive league and cup ties.

His treble at the Rivermoor ground took his tally to 26 goals, which includes one for Bassett.

He is fourth in the Premier Division’s scoring list, three goals behind the second man, his team-mate Adam Cornell.

“TJ is a great signing for us,” said Tallentire.

“We have always known what his qualities are, but, having worked with him now for a few months, he is miles better than I thought he was.

“He has fitted in at the club fantastically well and is now very much part of our team and our squad.

“He is a huge character in our dressing room.

“When you work with a player you see what they can do and what they are about, their personality and how they fit in – and TJ has been fantastic.”

Obviously, a player of Swindon-based Bohane’s quality doesn’t come cheaply, but Tallentire says: “He is paying us back, leaps and bounds.”

The Bracknell manager, however, says it is unfair to just single out Bohane for their thrashing of Highmoor, one of only three teams to defeat Robins in the league this season.

“Everyone played a massive part in this win, including the three lads who came on as substitutes,” commented Tallentire, who was missing five of his regulars – Alex Rodrigues, Jamie McClurg, Carl Withers, Kensley Maloney and Cornell.

“It was a fantastic effort to beat a team that we generally have trouble against and beat them emphatically.

“We always had that bit of steely determination about ourselves today.

“Before the game, we knew if we won we would go top of the table, so that was a huge incentive for us. We got six goals, three points and we’re top of the league. We’re over the moon.”

But Tallentire is certainly not getting carried away and realises that teams will now be trying extra hard to knock them off the top perch.

He continued: “We know teams are going to ask questions of us. We’ve still got four months of the season to go, and there are going to be some stiff tests ahead, but the same can be said for all the other sides who are up there with us.

“We have just got to keep on doing what we have been doing.”

Bohane was joined on the scoresheet against Highmoor by Callum Whitty, who was switched from centre back to midfield, fellow midfielder George Short and Joe Grant.

Bracknell are without a game this Saturday and return to action next Tuesday evening when they visit Flackwell Heath in the semi-finals of the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy.