BRACKNELL Town have brought in experienced Louie Soares as they prepare to hot up their bid to reach the Isthmian League South Central Division play-offs, writes Dave Wright.

The 35-year-old Reading-born midfielder joins them from National League South side Slough, having previously played under Bobby Wilkinson at Hungerford.

"I have known him for many years," said the Robins manager after seeing the player put pen to paper last Saturday.

"I have been trying to get him for four of five weeks. He's a special lad; he knows how I operate as he was with me at Hungerford for four years.

"When I went to Wealdstone, he went to Slough because of the distance in travelling, so I am delighted we have now got back together. I told him to come here and enjoy his football.

"It is a big signing for this club, it shows we do mean business by signing good players and players with experience."

Soares, who earlier in his career made more than 100 appearances for both Aldershot Town and Basingstoke, recently joined Staines from Slough on loan, but didn't play for the Swans when they crashed 7-1 to Bracknell last Saturday.

Wilkinson described it as a "brilliant performance" particularly as they had gone two weeks without a game.

Nathan Minhas netted a first-half hat-trick with the other goals coming from Dan Bailey (2), Max Herbert and Seb Bowerman.

"I was very proud of the boys," said the manager. "We have got some special players who just don't stop working.

"They (Staines) started well for 15 minutes, but then my boys moved up a couple of gears, so real credit to them.

"We won the game in the first half and you could not ask for anything more from them."

Wilkinson continued: "My players are being very professional, we are all going in the right direction and wanting to win every game and then we will see where it takes us in the table."

The Robins are certainly making a strong statement regarding their play-off intentions.

Even allowing for managerless Staines' inadequacies, Bracknell were extremely clinical with their finishing and could easily have reached double figures.

Over-worked keeper Louis Dixon was clearly their man-of-the-match, pulling off a string of fine saves before being sent off in the final minute for handling outside his area, while Town had two strong appeals for a penalty turned down.

"I felt for their keeper," said Wilkinson. "He had a fantastic game despite the scoreline and it was perhaps unfortunate he was sent off. They (Staines) are going through a hard time at the moment."

Looking ahead to this Saturday's game at Tooting & Mitcham, the Robins manager commented: "It is a massive one both for them and for us. They lost last Saturday, so will be looking to bounce back.

"We will need to make sure we become hard to beat and there could well be a change or two in our team.

"We will need to be on the front foot and defend for our lives at times."