BRACKNELL Town joint-manager Jeff Lamb still believes runaway Hellenic League Premier Division leaders Highworth Town can be caught despite losing 1-0 to them on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

The Robins, in fourth place, now trail by a massive 19 points, but have four matches in hand and the Worthians are to visit Larges Lane at the end of the season.

Lamb admitted their defeat was a setback, saying: “After a good run of results, this is a little bit of a knock, but we will regroup and pick ourselves up.

“We are only halfway through the season.

“We will need to go on another good run and we are more than capable of that.”

Lamb felt his side were unfortunate not to have left Highworth with a point.

“Being honest, I think the fairest result would have been a draw,” he said.

“Their goal came from a wicked deflection. We made enough chances, had a few penalty appeals turned down and we hit the crossbar right at the end of the game, so luck wasn’t on our side.

“Obviously, it was a disappointing result for us, but we were not outplayed. The effort was there.”

Lamb did agree, however, that not all of his team were at their best, but defended them by saying: “You cannot expect every player to play great every game. You just hope they don’t come around in games like this.”

While accepting Highworth’s ground is far different from Larges Lane with its sloping pitch and uneven surface, Lamb stated: “It is a difficult place to come to, but conditions were the same for both teams and you can’t make that an excuse.”

Lamb said Bracknell will “get in a couple of good training sessions this week” ahead of their FA Vase fourth round tie away to Hampshire side Blackfield & Langley on Saturday (3pm).

“It is going to be a tough game, but you expect that at this stage of the Vase,” commented the manager.

“We know bits and pieces about them. We have spoken to a few people about them and had them watched.”

They currently lie second in the Wessex League following 18 wins, four draws and three defeats with a goals record of 66 for and only 16 against.

Justin Clayton, who played for the last five minutes as a substitute at Highworth, Kensley Maloney and George Short are on the way back from injury.

“It is good to have these players coming back as it is important to have a strong squad going into the second half of the season,” concluded Lamb.