HIGHWORTH Town manager Jeff Roberts has warned his players they need to buck up their ideas or they’ll leave after a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Brimscombe and Thrupp.

Roberts was hoping his team would be able to build on a solid outing in the FA Cup last weekend, in which they defeated Ardley United 3-0.

However, it wasn’t to be the case as Wednesday’s visitors put four past Town, who now sit second-from-bottom in the Premier Division.

Roberts said: “It was very disappointing for us. I thought for the first 15 or 20 minutes, we took the game to them we just didn’t take our chances.

“We got caught on the counter-attack, conceded a goal, and our bottle went. There was nothing about us. Our work-rate went.

“We conceded before half-time, then again in the second half. We ran out of steam and conceded two sloppy goals.

“We had a chat after the game and said people need to buck up or there will be players gone and we will be bringing players in.

“I felt sorry for the supporters. The players let the club down. The work-rate was poor and the communication was poor. It’s just not good enough.”

Highworth will have a lengthy list of players who will be absent for the weekend’s fixture against Flackwell Heath, which includes Ryan Stanners (hamstring), Tom Cole (Achilles), Ross Adams (knee), Lewis Brown (hip), Jordan Roberts (cartilage tear), Matty Jenkins and Tony Joyce (both away).

“I watched them (Flackwell) before our cup game against Ardley and they looked a good side. They look a very organised. They worked hard off the ball, so it is going to be tough when we have so many players out.” added Roberts Royal Wootton Bassett Town will also be looking to turn their form around as they hunt for their first points since Paul Braithwaite’s departure as boss a week ago.

They will play host to Brackley Town Saints on Saturday after being defeated 1-0 by Binfield last weekend.

Bassett have a good chance of getting a result this weekend as their opponents are in a similar position, with just one point separating the two sides.

However, if they are to get something from the game, they will have to do it without striker TJ Bohane as he has since signed for Bracknell Town.