BRIDGWATER Town manager Phil Hucker admitted that their latest defeat was “particularly hard to take” after the quality of the performance in Saturday’s 2-1 reverse against Shortwood United, writes Paul Martin.

A controversial penalty and an early second half strike was enough for the visitors to claim the points, with George Kellow’s consolation coming too late for the Robins to mount a comeback.

Hucker was left bemoaning his side’s lack of fortune in front of goal after another positive display ended without points on the board.

Reflecting on the result, he said: “We dominated for large spells and should have been two or three up in the early stages - their goalkeeper made two very good saves and we had another one cleared off the line.

“The penalty came against the run of play and the second goal shocked us really.

“We came back into it late on and our hard work is there for all to see, which makes it harder to take when we’re not quite getting the rub of the green.”

Town were boosted by the presence of new arrivals Jake Llewellyn and Dave Pearce, both of whom impressed the manager.

“Jake gave us natural balance on the left hand side and Dave was able to bring others into play with his hold-up abilities,” he said.

“We’ve got other players asking if they can come and join us, so we will assess them and I’ll make a decision in the next fortnight on whether to bring any more in.

“We won’t bring players in for the sake of it, they have got to be of the necessary quality to help us.”

Saturday’s match was the latest in a string of narrow defeats since Hucker took charge in January, and he thinks that a change in fortunes could be just around the corner.

“If we can get ahead in a game then I think we’ll be tough to break down.

“We just need one to fly in off a shin or something like that to get us in that position, then the other team will attack us more and there will be more space for us to play in.”

Town returned to the foot of the table this weekend as Wantage Town defeated Barnstaple, but the manager insisted that survival remains the aim despite his side sitting 11 points from safety.

“We’re focused on staying in this league," he said.

“Our young players do not look out of place at this level at all and there’s a great camaraderie in the squad.

“Our spirit could not be any better if we were top of the league, it’s brilliant and that’s what is holding us together at the moment.”

Next weekend sees the Robins travel to mid-table Wimborne, who play at Taunton Town tonight (ko 7.45pm).

Bridgwater Mercury:

BRIDGWATER Town Reserves man Alex Male (in blue) challenges Staplegrove's Tom Edwards in Saturday’s match.

Bridgwater Town Reserves, meanwhile, fell to a 4-1 defeat at Staplegrove in the Somerset County League Premier Division.

The result leaves them in 13th in the table, a position they will not be able to improve on next weekend as they are without a game.

Town's second string are next in action on February 22 when they host Nailsea United.