Windsor will learn lessons from defeat

A disappointed Ben Smyth insists Windsor FC will learn lessons from Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Egham Town and is confident they'll bounce back in the coming weeks.

More often than not the Royalists have responded well to a disappointing defeat, but they'll have their work cut out this weekend when they visit Combined Counties Premier Division North leaders Hanworth Villa.

Windsor are six places further back in seventh and they've risen to that position thanks in the main to their positive attacking displays, with Excellence Muhemba and Eric Sowolona in particular impressing.

A report card on their defence this season would read 'requires improvement', with the side yet to keep a clean sheet in the league, and it's something Mark Cooper is keen to address.

“Our attacking outfit, made up of Ex and Eric, is brilliant. We have just let ourselves down with defensive mistakes that are killing our games,” said Smyth. “We can’t keep expecting to win games by scoring three or four goals – we’ve got to stop them going in down the other end.

“On our day we’re up there [as one of the best sides in the division]. The prowess we’ve got up front, plus Charlie (Losasso) sitting behind, is unmatched.

“In my opinion, they’re not step 5 footballers, they’re better than that.

“Like I said, the main problem for us this season has been our defending, but it doesn’t help that our back four haven’t been the same for longer than two games in a row. I think, on our day, we can compete with the very best and that’s why Saturday was so disappointing.”

Smyth was brought on for Jake Hammond in the 41st minute of Windsor’s encounter with Egham Town. Playing at rightback, the 22-year-old put in a strong performance, both in defence and attack, but couldn’t prevent the hosts from slipping to defeat.