THE huge task that new boss Mark Tallentire faces at Bracknell Town FC was highlighted on Tuesday night, writes Dave Wright.

The Robins produced a poor performance as they crashed to a 4-0 loss at Holmer Green in the first round of the Berks and Bucks Senior Trophy.

Tallentire missed the tie as he was working in London and the report he will get from assistant manager Lee Simpson won’t make for happy reading.

Their defending was abysmal in the opening 15 minutes, conceding two goals to Richard Wallace and Dean Powles and seeing the latter blast the ball over the bar when presented with an open goal.

Tallentire knows he must bring in more experienced players to bolster his defence.

His first signing, Carl Davies, played in the 3-1 league defeat at Longlevens on Saturday but he had to miss the Trophy tie as he wasn’t signed before the deadline last week.

Defender Dave Fenton, who played for the club as a youth, has also rejoined Bracknell with Tallentire keen to add some much-needed experience to his squad.

Having been left reeling after those two early goals, Bracknell never really looked like getting back in the game and it needed some fine saves by 'keeper Garry Aulsberry to prevent Holmer from increasing their lead.

Robins did string a few moves together, with Sean Handley showing plenty of pace down the left flank, while Shane Cooper-Clark wasn’t too far away with a shot across the face of the home goal.

But the team lying eighth in the South Midlands League always looked the more threatening and made it 3-0 on 40 minutes when Dean Allen forced the ball home following a corner.

Aulsberry made two more saves from Powles early in the second half before Ryan Coupland conceded a penalty which enabled Allen to score Holmer’s fourth in the 64th minute.

The Bucks side squandered two more chances as they cruised through to the quarter-finals.

But at least Bracknell didn’t give up. Gareth Brown wasn’t far away with a long-range effort that just dropped past the post with the 'keeper beaten, while Sam Butcher superbly tipped a rasping drive from Cooper-Clark onto his crossbar and away to safety.

Cooper-Clark put so much effort into his shot that it left him limping.

League rivals Thatcham have made an official approach for Cooper-Clark, but, having signed Jon Bennett from Flackwell Heath this week, they are unlikely to pursue their interest.

It is the fifth time this year another club has tried to entice the striker away from Larges Lane.

Cooper-Clark, however, must be becoming increasingly frustrated at the way his team-mates are giving away goals.

Robins remain second from bottom of the Premier Division with just 10 points from 16 games.

They have matches in hand over their fellow strugglers and no doubt Tallentire believes he still has plenty of time to lift the club out of the relegation zone.

However, Bracknell badly need to string some good results together to raise morale in the camp.

They are without a game this Saturday but next Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off) meet Royal Wootton Bassett at Larges Lane in the second round of the Bluefin Sports Cup.

Ascot United play their second round tie at Division One East leaders Penn & Tylers Green this Saturday (1.45 kick-off) before meeting Chinnor in the third round of the Hellenic Floodlit Cup at The Racecourse Ground next Tuesday.

Binfield travel to Kidlington in the league this Saturday and visit Abingdon United in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy on Tuesday.

Wokingham & Emmbrook, bottom of the Premier Division, entertain Abingdon, another struggling side, at The Triangle ground this Saturday and are also home to high-riding Highworth next Tuesday.

The Sumas are four places below Abingdon in the table but trail by 14 points, an indication of the mammoth task facing them in their bid to avoid relegation after just one season in the top flight.