NEW College Swindon paid the penalty as they slipped to their eighth defeat on the bounce with a 2-0 defeat to Clanfield.

Two penalties were enough to undo the young college side who continue to slip down the table with their current poor run of form.

“The lads did quite well in the first half and had some good spells of possession but looked light in terms of scoring,” said New College Academy Director Ian Howell.

“Then they conceded the two penalties for the goals so it was disappointing that mistakes defensively cost us.

“I think one was a blatant penalty but the other one was a bit questionable, but sometimes you get the rub of the green and sometimes it goes against you.

“That seems to be the tale of the end of our season, either we make a costly mistake or there is a lack of cutting edge up front.”

Howell has admitted that a lack of experience in the squad has made it difficult for them to deal with their recent bad run of form but is sticking by the College’s system.

“The feedback from the players is that they are lacking confidence and that comes from winning games ultimately,” added Howell.

“When we’re on a bad run, because we don’t have the experience of even two or three older players, a couple of players of that age would make a massive difference to us but that is not the state of our programme.

“We always go with the young players. We don’t have an old boys club where we have players playing for years and years and that is something where we have to bite the bullet.

“When we are on top of our form and everyone is fit we can pick up results in the league and then when we go on a bad run it is hard for the young players to find it in themselves to muster up what they need.”

College have no game tomorrow and will have a week to prepare for their last league fixture against Letcombe.