Bradshaw wants the right reaction from Desborough

Ar Tarn beat the big freeze in midweek but suffered just their third defeat of the ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties League Premier Division campaign as they had John Dean sent off and went down 2-1 to Yaxley at the Waterworks Field on Tuesday night.

Desborough, who sit in fourth in the table, are enjoying one of their best seasons for a long time so far and Bradshaw insists if it is to continue, then they must react well after a setback.

“It’s a tough game at Peterborough Northern Star but when I have asked questions of the lads this season, they have always responded,” the Ar Tarn boss said.

“The question of whether we can respond from a loss will be asked again tomorrow.

“We are in an unusual position for Desborough in that we are in the top four and it’s important we react well to defeats because if you don’t, you soon drop down.

“So this weekend we will be going out for maximum points but if we can’t get that then it’s crucial we don’t lose.

“We will pick ourselves up and look to respond in the right way.”

Bradshaw, meanwhile, insists the decision to play Tuesday’s game despite the sub-zero conditions was right.

But he admitted to being disappointed with some of Yaxley’s “antics” as the visitors completed a league double over Ar Tarn.

“The decision to play the game was the right one,” Bradshaw added.

“We gifted them two goals and then got one back and at half-time I was confident.

“But John has reacted to a situation and got himself sent-off, which was disappointing and it is something he will have to learn from.

“We still did well with 10 men though. We battered them for half-an-hour and couldn’t score and by the end they were wasting time, which is a testament to us.

“I was a bit disappointed with some of Yaxley’s antics at times and I felt they should have had a man sent off in the first half when our centre-half was blatantly elbowed.

“But I won’t say too much. There were positives for us in the game and we have to take the defeat on the chin and move on.”

Wellingborough Town will be hoping for a change in fortune this weekend.

The Doughboys were on course to end a run of six UCL Premier Division matches without a win as Albert Akinremi’s first-half goal had them 1-0 up at Boston Town last Saturday.

But the clash was abandoned due to fog on 68 minutes to leave boss Jon Mitchell and assistant Stuart Goosey frustrated.

However, Goosey insists Wellingborough must take the positives out of the performance into this weekend when they take on fourth-from-bottom Harrowby United at the Dog & Duck.

“As the game started the fog drifted in,” he said.

“I could understand it from the officials’ point of view because they were struggling but I did think it was still playable when they made the decision.

“It was frustrating because we got ourselves into a good position and we were quite comfortable in the game.

“It’s disappointing but there were positives for me and Jon.

“It’s another chance for us this weekend but we are aware that there are no easy games in this league and we will have to perform well again.”

Jim Scott believes the next 10 matches will shape how Rothwell Corinthians’ UCL Premier Division campaign will pan out.

Corinthians ended up kicking their heels last weekend as their home clash with Deeping Rangers was postponed.

They are due to return to action at fifth-placed Holbeach United this weekend.

And joint-boss Scott said: “We are lacking a bit of game time but the lads will have been in this week and we will be ready.

“Holbeach have had a few changes recently and we thought we were unlucky not to get something from the home game with them (which Holbeach won 2-1).

“We have got a difficult stretch of matches coming up against teams in the top half of the table.

“It’s going to stretch us and challenge us but we are happy with where we are at the moment, we are on track to where we want to be.

“We want to push on and pick up as many points and try to get ourselves into the top eight.

“The next 10 games will shape things up.

“It will be highly competitive but that’s how we like it.”