SHRIVENHAM manager Sam Collier is refusing to get downbeat despite seeing his side fall to another defeat.

The Barrington Park men pushed Hellenic League Premier Division high-flyers Thame United all the way on Saturday and the visitors needed a questionable penalty and free-kick either side of a Sam Packer strike to take the points.

And that 2-1 reserve keeps Collier’s men second from bottom in the table having lost 15 of their 18 league matches to date.

“We have to stay positive,” he said. “There have been times where we haven’t played well and looked a little off the boil.

“Yesterday, we were bang at it. We started bright and we looked positive and then they were given a dubious penalty.”

After Dan West had tucked away the spot-kick, Shrivenham pulled themselves back into the match but had to wait until five minutes before the interval before a fine individual goal from Packer.

However, Thame won a free-kick five minutes into the second half and Luke Ricketts reacted first to slot home the loose ball.

“The result and table doesn’t lie, we are where we are and we have lost again,” Collier said. “But after the game we had a massive huddled and we were disappointed with the result yet pleased with the performance.

“What we are missing this year is goals. Last season Josh (Fowler) and Robbo (Steve Robertson) got us 60 goals.

“How do you replace that? Last season with those goals it didn’t get highlighted that the midfield weren’t scoring, this year it does stand out.

“We have all got to try and pick up the slack and we are trying to bring in a new striker.”

Collier was also pleased to see a return to form from his skipper Liam Edmonton and his goalscorer at the weekend.

“Liam Edmonton had been a bit out of form of late, but yesterday he was very impressive,” the Shrivvy boss said.

“Sam, too, we have had a few words about a couple of poor performances, left him out of the side and I’m delighted with how he did yesterday.

“But we need to start picking up wins, we have a cup match on Wednesday night against Milton (United) which will take serious as we need to win and then we have got a trip to Ascot (United).”