Thatcham Town's Jamie Leacock demands a reaction after defeat to Bracknell Town

Thatcham Town manager Jamie Leacock has challenged his players to bounce back against South Park after Tuesday’s difficult 4-0 defeat to Bracknell Town in the Isthmian League South Central.

Joe Grant and George Knight gave the visitors a 2-0 lead after eight minutes and then Daniel Bayliss added a third just before the break.

Knight scored his second of the game five minutes after the break as Bracknell continued their impressive start to the campaign.

Speaking after the game, Leacock said: “I was disappointed to concede after a couple of minutes and then again and goals deflate you, so to be 2-0 down after eight minutes then you can be staring down the barrel of a horrible evening.

“Then at 3-0 you know the game is over, so at that point you just don’t want to be embarrassed – especially against a side who I believe will win the league.

“We spoke the boys at half-time about them making a choice on whether they wanted to be embarrassed or whether they wanted to show some fight.

“We have to look at the levels that Bracknell are at and try to get there. It’s not all about skill and individual performances, it’s about fight and winning second balls.”

Leacock was aware of the difference between the two sides on Tuesday, but he had urged his young side to bounce back from defeat when they travel to South Park on Saturday.

“I have a very young side who will learn from stuff like this and I think we can come back because this team has been good at bouncing back.

“The one thing I look at is when we have a bad result, I want us to bounce back and so far we have done that.”

Meanwhile, Thatcham Town U18s suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Thame United U18s on Monday in the FA Youth Cup.

Dan Power scored the opening goal for Thatcham, but two late goals for the visitors sent them through to the next round.